Introduction
In a significant leap for the broadcasting industry,
NetActuate has launched
MoQ Relay, a managed service designed to optimize live media delivery over its global network. This innovative technology is set to transform how broadcasters and streaming platforms distribute content to audiences worldwide.
What is MoQ Relay?
MoQ Relay is the latest addition to NetActuate's suite of live-media solutions, which also includes the Media Substrate and C-Band Transition Acceleration Service. This service enables media companies to efficiently publish a live feed, ensuring that one track reaches multiple subscribers from relay capacities strategically placed closer to their audience.
Mark Mahle, CEO of NetActuate, emphasized that the primary question in discussions about MoQ often revolves around relay management. He noted that since NetActuate operates its own underlying network, the company excels in managing relays effectively.
Advantages of Using QUIC Technology
Media over QUIC stands out as an essential standard in modern content delivery, especially as the reliance on satellite capacities diminishes. QUIC, being an open standard, allows teams to scale content delivery through relays seamlessly while preserving standard workflows associated with transport streams.
An interesting aspect of MoQ Relay is its capacity-saving efficiency. During tests, it was found that one relay could distribute video output sixteen times greater while utilizing the same backbone resources that would otherwise be required for a single viewer. This offers an enormous cost-saving benefit as audience size no longer dictates the network costs.
Network Infrastructure and Performance
MoQ Relay operates on infrastructure owned by NetActuate, avoiding the complications associated with rented services. Continuous measurements of paths between relay locations ensure that any degradation in route quality leads to automatic traffic rerouting through more efficient paths. Each session has a stable per-location address that helps manage routing independently from the content delivery.
The system guarantees that capacity is allocated according to actual traffic needs, with over 45 locations around the globe to choose from. This tangibly enhances efficiency, ensuring that each customer is provided a tailored service without unnecessary shared infrastructure. Notably, each customer receives a dedicated namespace to further streamline their operations.
Insightful Management Tools
MoQ Relay not only enhances the quality of media delivery but also provides clear visibility into operations. Teams gain an operational perspective of performance across multiple tracks and hops throughout the NetActuate network—from ingress to egress. This insight becomes critical during the evaluation of live distribution patterns.
As Mark de Jong, VP of Business Development at NetActuate, stated, MoQ is shifting focus from protocol discussions to practical deployment planning. A managed relay service, particularly one run on operator networks, simplifies the evaluation process for teams interested in advanced media delivery technology.
Free Evaluation Deployment
To encourage broad adoption, NetActuate is offering a no-cost evaluation deployment for qualifying media companies, broadcasters, and distribution teams. Each approved team will have access to its own relay capacity at selected locations, complemented by full support and observability from NetActuate’s network specialists. Interested teams can request an evaluation through NetActuate's website.
Upcoming Engagements at IBC 2026
NetActuate will showcase MoQ Relay at the
IBC 2026 event from September 11 to 14 in Amsterdam. This venue will provide an opportunity for media teams to engage directly with NetActuate representatives and observe the service in action.
About NetActuate
NetActuate is recognized for its comprehensive edge infrastructure and networking solutions across more than 45 global locations. The company's services are essential for businesses seeking to deploy workloads with low latency, security, and resilience. Their
Open Network Edge (ONE) Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) platform supports various applications, including VMs, Kubernetes, and cloud services, ensuring flexibility and performance that meets modern demands. For further information, visit their official website:
netactuate.com.
Embracing innovations like MoQ Relay will undoubtedly reshape the future of live media distribution, allowing broadcasters and streaming services to deliver content more efficiently than ever before.