Cloud’s Dirty Little Secret: i3D.net on Hybrid Models,
CDN Evolution & Scaling Discord-Level Video

Voices of Video with Stefan Ideler from i3D.net

Discover how i3D.net, a global infrastructure leader born from the gaming industry, is disrupting traditional cloud and CDN models with bare metal, real-time video streaming, and the second-largest peering network worldwide.

In this Voices of Video episode, Stefan Ideler, CTO at i3D.net, joins Mark Donnigan to unpack the hidden costs of cloud, how to escape vendor lock-in, and why hybrid infrastructure is the future of scalable video delivery.

From supporting millions of concurrent Discord streams to partnering with NETINT for VPU-powered encoding, this episode reveals actionable insights for video platforms, streaming engineers, and infrastructure architects.

Learn why proximity to users, egress efficiency, and real-time transcoding are key to future-proofing media and entertainment services.

Topics include:

  • Cloud’s “dirty little secret” in video streaming
  • Bare metal vs cloud compute for WebRTC workloads
  • Global infrastructure scale for gaming and media
  • CDN + compute convergence
  • Case study: NETINT x i3D.net hybrid deployment
Scaling beyond limits: i3D.net’s take on CDN, video streaming, and gaming infrastructure with Stefan Ideler from i3D.net

Stefan Ideler - Co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer at i3D.net

Stefan Ideler is the Co-founder and the Chief Innovation Officer at i3D.net, driving cutting-edge solutions in global connectivity, software development, and security. With 20+ years of experience, he specializes in scaling infrastructure, optimizing performance for gaming and enterprise clients, and fostering innovation. Passionate about remote team collaboration, he leads initiatives that enhance culture and efficiency. A graduate of Erasmus University Rotterdam, Stefan is committed to pushing technological boundaries and shaping the future of network and cloud solutions.

Mark Donnigan - NETINT - webinar with Norsk.

Mark Donnigan - Head of Strategic Marketing at NETINT Technologies

Mark Donnigan is the Head of Strategic Marketing at NETINT Technologies, where his extensive experience and innovative approach have significantly contributed to the company's growth and industry standing. With a background that combines deep technical understanding and strategic marketing expertise, Mark has been instrumental in positioning NETINT as a leader in ASIC Video Processing Units (VPUs) for ultra-high density video encoding and streaming. His work at NETINT involves not just promoting the brand and its products but also shaping the future direction of the video streaming and encoding market.