Customer Success Story: Lumen CDN Helps Mangomolo Accelerate Global Expansion

A content provider is only as good as its underlying network. Low latency is of the essence—which means a global footprint is required. Online video platform provider Mangomolo found an ideal partner for its international expansion plans in a content delivery network (CDN) from Lumen.

A CDN is a system of distributed servers (a network) that delivers content to users over the internet. To be effective in speeding delivery of content of high-traffic global websites, the CDN servers need to be located geographically close to users. The system must be able to calculate the geographic locations of the users, the origin of the content, and the content delivery servers when sending, to minimize latency. CDNs also provide protection from large surges in traffic.

The importance of global reach in CDNs

Based in Lebanon, Mangomolo gives broadcasters and video-content providers an effective and easy-to-use platform to deliver high-quality content online. In addition to accelerating the entire web-streaming journey, its platform automates and enhances everything from better audience analyses to automated video on demand delivery workflow. It is also moving into content monetization, social engagement and monitoring, and ad serving.

But Mangomolo needed a truly global partner before it could achieve its ambitious expansion plans. The company had noted growing demand for rich video content among the ever-increasing number of online users worldwide. And as more and more companies are undergoing digital transformations, demand for content in general and video in particular was exploding.

The problem—and Mangomolo’s opportunity—was that most businesses aren’t content-delivery experts. They struggle putting together all the hardware, software, and networking parts involved in ensuring that their video content reaches users without the latency that can cause poor quality or even delivery failure.

“We wanted to solve the headaches that publishers and broadcasters face by providing them with a one-stop shop, so they could approach us with their needs and we would provide them with a full OTT [over-the-top] video ecosystem,” says Wissam Sabbagh, Mangomolo’s founder.

The company decided to seize the day. By globally expanding from its established base in the Middle East to the United Kingdom and the United States, it could fulfill its mission much more effectively.

But the company needed a CDN provider with a global footprint that could offer excellent levels of performance even when faced with large amounts of traffic. Its ability to deliver immediately responsive and supportive customer service was also a top priority.

Mangomolo found that partner in Lumen.

Focusing on the relationship

When choosing Lumen over other possible suppliers, Sabbagh said the relationship he could envision building with the company was “vital.” He had been seeking a partner that would be willing—and, most importantly, easily available—to offer help or discuss ideas for new features.

“The customer relationship really stood out—we realized that the experience we’d get with the Lumen account manager was much better than we’d get elsewhere,” he said.

Lumen CDN is reliable, secure and high-performing. Because Lumen has global reach, Mangomolo would be able to scale as much as needed—wherever it wanted. Mangomolo currently serves 55 publishers and is adding more monthly. The fact that the Lumen CDN can serve thousands of concurrent viewers without issues meant that Mangomolo would be able to cope with the highly unpredictable nature of the online video market. Lumen also delivers redundancy as part of its CDN solution, so Mangomolo’s customers would be able to deliver an absolutely seamless experience to their end-users.

Lumen CDN a critical element in the Mangomolo platform

The way Mangomolo is using the Lumen CDN is to embed it into its wider customer offerings. And Mangomolo is so confident in the ability of Lumen to deliver that it uses Lumen as its primary CDN provider.

“We believe it’s only a matter of time before we become the leading global player in this area, says Sabbagh. “Our main competitive advantage is our ability to provide a full OTT ecosystem rather than just bits and pieces.”

Mangomolo is also beginning to offer other, more specialized broadcast technologies. It already delivers a cloud playout service that it continuously adds modules to. For it to do this, it needed the strongest possible network backbone for delivering content. That’s also where Lumen shines.

“As we call on Lumen to provide more support and advice and more complex technical requirements, the team continues to be nothing if not helpful in delivering what we need,” says Sabbagh. “Our two companies have a great synergy.”

Learn how Lumen CDN can help your business deliver video, applications, software and more with the world’s most-connected content delivery network.