At IBC 2026 in Amsterdam, the MainStreaming booth hosted “The Hidden Middle”, a discussion with LINX and Namex on how interconnection is reshaping the geography of streaming. The conversation focused on the role of international and regional IXPs, the quality of service delivered by the CDN, and a concrete look at what lies ahead for 2030. The topic was presented by Remco Kaptein, Senior Solution Engineer at MainStreaming.
THE “HIDDEN MIDDLE” PANEL WITH LINX AND NAMEX
A high-calibre panel has just concluded with Pru from LINX and Flavio from Namex, entirely dedicated to “The Hidden Middle”. It is a topic that encompasses a great deal of technology and many different types of connectivity, all of which were explored over the course of a productive conversation.
Key points:
- Joint panel with LINX and Namex
- Focus on “The Hidden Middle”
- Analysis of the different types of connectivity
HOW MAINSTREAMING LEVERAGES DIFFERENT CONNECTIONS
The discussion covered how MainStreaming uses different types of connections and how it achieves the best possible quality of service (QoS) from its media delivery CDN. The exchange with Pru and Flavio offered an interesting angle from which to explore its partnerships, or rather its memberships, with IXPs.
Key points:
- Combined use of multiple connection types
- Maximum QoS for the media delivery CDN
- Memberships with IXPs
INTERNATIONAL IXPs AND REGIONAL IXPs
As highlighted during the conversation, the point is not only to talk about IXPs, but also about their different types: LINX is considered an international IXP, while Namex has a more regional profile. The speaker himself admitted he had not been aware of this distinction, which turned into a learning opportunity for him as well. The conversation was very interesting, with good interaction among the participants.
Key points:
- LINX: international IXP
- Namex: regional IXP
- An exchange that proved enriching for all participants
TOWARDS 2030: EVERY INTERCONNECTION COUNTS
Looking ahead to 2030, and to what all these connections will mean, promises to be particularly stimulating. As emerged during the discussion, a CDN will need to use every type of interconnection available: public peering, whether bilateral or multilateral, transit, and PNIs (Private Network Interconnects). All of them will be relevant, and all of them will play a role in ensuring the best possible media delivery through the MainStreaming CDN.