ISPs sign Web cache deals

The importance of Web caching technology to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) has been highlighted by two major deals signed in the last few days.

Network Appliance has won a £1.6m contract from Planet Online, the Energis-owned ISP which runs fast-growing Freeserve, while Cable & Wireless USA has licensed Inktomi's Traffic Server technology.

Web caching allows end users to access a popular Web site without directly visiting its host server. This means that when there are surges at a particular time, the workload is spread, theoretically reducing access times and the risk of sites going down.

High-street giant, Dixons launched Freeserve last autumn. However, slow response times have led to claims that the company didn't plan for such high popularity. The company is aiming to improve access times and dial-up reliability by using Network Appliance's servers - making use of 4.3 terabytes of storage - for Web caching, email, and news.

Network Appliance said its long-term plan is to sell to enterprises as well as to ISPs.

The Inktomi deal is for the use of the company's Traffic Server platform and its Internet Shock Absorber (ISA) content distribution and management services.

The products perform a similar function to the Network Appliance offering, but Inktomi has recently been promoting its ability to provide streaming media caching; something that is becoming increasingly important as more sites deliver video over IP networks such as the Internet.