How to choose the best CDN for live streaming from Singapore?
Updated: Jun 18, 2020
Before you start your webcast, you must first select your live streaming platform.
A CDN or Content Delivery Network is a group of servers (often located in different geographies) working together to provide fast delivery of online videos.
Facebook, Youtube, Twitch, Vimeo and Zoom are popular CDN platforms for live streaming.
There are many factors to consider when selecting the right CDN for your live stream.
1. Budget
CDN such as Youtube, Facebook and Zoom offer live streaming as a free service.
However, there are restrictions in terms of the event duration and copyrighted content.
Zoom offers paid subscription models for content creators who want to livestream their Zoom meetings to Facebook
Vimeo's paid services offer professional users unlimited event live streaming.
2. Viewers Locale
Services such as Zoom, Youtube, Vimeo, and Facebook are inaccessible to viewers in China. So bear that in mind when choosing a CDN. If your viewers are mainly in Singapore, choose CDNs with servers located in Singapore. Youtube and Facebook have regional headquarters and servers to support live streaming traffic in Singapore.
3. Security
Generally, paid services such as Dacast, Vimeo Premium and Zoom offer some form of password protection to keep out uninvited viewers. You may wish to consider subscribing to these service providers if you require password protection.
4. Interactivity
The degree of interactivity with audience can vary greatly from one service provider to the next. For example, you can interact with viewers via chat during a Youtube live stream but you would not be able to see or hear the viewers. Services like Zoom Meetings however can support multiparty interactions that can be then relayed to Facebook.
The new Facebook Messenger Rooms offer an interactive experience for up to 50 participants per session.
5. Paywall
Some CDNs like Vimeo and Dacast have paywall options for content creators to charge a ticket price for their pay-per-view live stream. If your preferred CDN does not offer this option, you can subscribe to e-ticketing services such as Cleeng to put a paywall on your Youtube Live or Facebook live streaming videos.