Ask HN: Video streaming is expensive yet YouTube "seems" to do it for free. How?

Re:Ask HN: Video streaming is expensive yet YouTube "seems" ... by immibis on Sunday May 19, 2024 @11:50PM (#40412096)

I never said it did. You still have to build whatever you want. A terabit of edge network is a terabit of edge network that has to be physically built.

Not all networks are the same. Some have terabit backbones and gigabit edges, some have the reverse. We'd still call both of them, roughly, terabits of network, and you still have to build them. The one with the terabit core might actually be easier because you have less of the expensive really fast equipment.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Video streaming is expensive yet YouTube "seems" ... by rahimnathwani on Sunday May 19, 2024 @11:57PM (#40412140)

OK I don't think we're disagreeing on any factual point.

The only point I wanted to make is that the 'terabit of network' doesn't have to be end to end, so it's not as scary as it may sound.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Video streaming is expensive yet YouTube "seems" ... by immibis on Monday May 20, 2024 @11:55PM (#40423938)

In some ways it's less scary: no long inter-site fiber runs that I assume are an absolute nightmare, and no renting those same runs at exorbitant rates. All your hands-on work remains in the datacenter, which is set up to make it a breeze. In other ways it's more scary: you have to negotiate with a lot more counterparties and visit a lot more datacenters.

[ Parent | on HN ]