Company snapshot
| Category | MaxCDN | Vodafone |
|---|---|---|
| Status | defunct | active |
| Founded | — | — |
| Headquarters | — | — |
| Website | — | — |
| Docs | — | — |
Overview
MaxCDN was a content delivery network (CDN) provider founded in 2009, focused on accelerating static and dynamic content for websites and applications. It served small to large businesses with a global network of edge servers. Acquired by StackPath in 2016, MaxCDN was retired in 2022, and StackPath itself shut down all services in 2024. The service is now defunct, with no active operations or support.
Vodafone, a global telecommunications company, offers content delivery network (CDN) services through partnerships, notably with Qwilt and Cisco, to enhance streaming for its mobile and fixed broadband customers. The service focuses on delivering high-quality video content and applications across Europe and Africa. It leverages Vodafone’s extensive network infrastructure to cache content closer to end users, reducing latency and improving streaming performance. The CDN solution is built on open caching standards, allowing scalability for video-on-demand and live streaming services. Customers include content providers and broadcasters seeking reliable delivery over Vodafone’s telecom network.
Network & Architecture
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Vodafone’s CDN operates across seven countries in Europe and Africa, with initial deployments following a successful trial in Italy. The network integrates Qwilt’s Open Edge Cloud platform with Cisco’s edge compute and networking infrastructure, creating a federated CDN model. Specific points of presence (POPs) are not publicly detailed, but Vodafone’s global telecom footprint, one of the largest internet networks, ensures robust coverage in EMEA regions. The architecture emphasizes edge caching to minimize latency, particularly for video streaming. Regional strengths lie in Europe and Africa, though its presence in other regions like APAC or LATAM is limited or not publicly documented.
Feature comparison
| Feature | MaxCDN | Vodafone |
|---|---|---|
waf | ✗ | ✗ |
bot_mitigation | ✗ | ✗ |
ddos | ✗ | ✗ |
rate_limit | ✗ | ✗ |
http3_quic | ✗ | ✗ |
tls13 | ✗ | ✗ |
tiered_cache | ✗ | ✗ |
origin_shield | ✗ | ✗ |
instant_purge | ✓ | ✗ |
stale_while_revalidate | ✗ | ✗ |
stale_if_error | ✗ | ✗ |
image_optimization | ✗ | ✗ |
video_vod | ✗ | ✓ |
video_live | ✗ | ✓ |
drm | ✗ | ✗ |
hls_dash_packaging | ✗ | ✗ |
websockets | ✗ | ✗ |
signed_urls | ✗ | ✗ |
edge_compute | ✗ | ✗ |
functions | ✗ | ✗ |
kv_storage | ✗ | ✗ |
api_first | ✓ | ✗ |
realtime_logs | ✓ | ✗ |
log_push | ✗ | ✗ |
terraform | ✗ | ✗ |
Legend: ✓ = Supported, ✗ = Not supported, — = Not listed
Pricing
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Vodafone does not publicly disclose detailed pricing for its CDN services. The model appears to be enterprise-focused, likely involving custom contracts for content providers and broadcasters. No pay-as-you-go (PAYG), free-tier, or per-GB pricing examples are available. Specific pricing details are not provided on Vodafone’s official website.
Integrations & DevEx
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No public information confirms support for Terraform, SDKs, CI/CD pipelines, or migration tools specific to Vodafone’s CDN. Integration details are sparse, and there is no evidence of real-time logs, analytics, or API-first design tailored for developers. The service appears oriented toward enterprise clients with direct support from Vodafone’s business teams rather than developer-centric tools.
When it fits
—
- Content providers targeting Europe and Africa, leveraging Vodafone’s telecom infrastructure for reliable video delivery.
- Broadcasters needing scalable live streaming and video-on-demand services with low latency.
- Enterprises seeking a telecom-backed CDN integrated with a global network provider.
When it doesn’t
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- Organizations requiring advanced security features like WAF, DDoS protection, or bot mitigation, which are not documented.
- Developers needing robust APIs, Terraform support, or real-time analytics for self-service CDN management.
- Businesses operating primarily outside Europe and Africa, where Vodafone’s CDN footprint is less established.
History & Notes
MaxCDN was known for its developer-friendly API and real-time purge capabilities, serving a wide range of clients until its integration into StackPath. The acquisition aimed to combine MaxCDN’s CDN expertise with StackPath’s security and edge computing, but integration challenges and rising costs led to customer dissatisfaction. The sudden shutdown of StackPath in 2024, with no support or leniency, left customers scrambling. No official MaxCDN website or documentation remains active.
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