BT Group has entered into a new partnership with video delivery specialist MainStreaming, aiming to improve how streaming content is delivered to households across the UK. The collaboration will see MainStreaming’s edge delivery network integrated directly into BT’s mobile and fixed-line infrastructure. The goal is to make video playback smoother, cut down on buffering during busy hours, and provide a more reliable experience for live and on-demand streaming services.
The project is built around two main ideas: enhancing the experience for viewers and creating cost efficiencies for providers. By introducing edge caching, content can be stored and served closer to the end user. This helps reduce pressure on the main network and ensures content is delivered more quickly and consistently. Broadcasters and OTT platforms such as BBC iPlayer, Netflix, and BT/EE TV are likely to see benefits too, with more predictable costs thanks to a capacity-based pricing model.
A major part of the roadmap is the introduction of Multicast-Assisted Unicast Delivery, or MAUD. This is a new type of content delivery network technology designed to tackle the challenge of multiple users streaming the same live event at once. Instead of sending separate streams to every viewer, MAUD enables a single stream to be shared across many users at the network edge. This reduces unnecessary duplication of data and helps networks manage spikes in traffic during high-profile events. BT has described this as a first-of-its-kind UK trial, though EE has previously explored similar approaches.
Alongside MAUD, BT and MainStreaming are also preparing to test software-defined edge caching solutions. These are designed to automatically allocate resources where they are most needed, for example during major sporting events or sudden surges in demand. By adapting in real time, these systems can help maintain a smooth viewing experience even when thousands of households are streaming simultaneously.
Chris Bramley, BT’s Chief Network Architect, said the company is committed to improving its infrastructure to match the growing appetite for streaming. He explained that by embedding a specialist content delivery partner like MainStreaming within BT’s network, the operator can both improve the efficiency of video distribution and deliver better viewing standards for customers.
The impact of this partnership is expected to reach across the UK media and streaming industry. For broadcasters and platforms, it offers the potential to deliver content more reliably and at lower cost. For consumers, it could mean fewer interruptions, faster start times, and more consistent quality when watching programmes or live events. However, the announcement does not set out a clear timeline for when these improvements will reach customers, with BT indicating that trials will take place before wider deployment.
The timing of this collaboration reflects the sharp rise in demand for high-quality streaming. With households now regularly using multiple connected devices at the same time, networks face increasing pressure to deliver stable connections at peak hours. Similar moves towards edge computing and network-assisted delivery are also being made internationally, showing that the trend is global as providers look to handle ever-higher levels of data traffic.
If the trials are successful, BT will be better positioned to lead the way in next-generation video delivery. The partnership has the potential to bring down costs for providers, while at the same time giving millions of UK households a smoother, more reliable streaming experience. For viewers, this could mean less waiting around and more time enjoying content without interruptions, while for providers it could create a more sustainable and predictable way of managing the heavy demands of video traffic.