UUnet takes multicast routing a stage further

ISP UUnet has set up a network of multicast routers to enable US customers to send audio, video or HTML content streams to multiple viewers over its Internet backbone.

Until now, the backbone technology has limited streaming to one-to-one connections, but by installing 60 Cisco routers dedicated to multicasting, UUnet can offer up to 128Kbps lines to customers wishing to broadcast multimedia streams over the Internet.

Microsoft's MSN is already planning to use the technology in the US.

The technology is being trialled in Europe, but a UUnet spokesperson said there are no plans to offer it commercially in Europe as yet, partly because of its less developed infrastructure, and partly because there was less demand for it than in the US.