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In this interview from Mile High Video 2025, Jan Ozer from the Streaming Learning Center speaks with Katerina Dobnerova from CDN77 about the company’s role in content delivery and its strategic approach to staying profitable in a highly competitive CDN market.
You can watch the interview on YouTube here, and it’s embedded below. Some of Katerina’s comments are edited slightly for readability.
Contents
CDN77’s Focus on Content Delivery and Financial Stability
The discussion began with Katerina explaining that CDN77 focuses exclusively on content delivery as its core product, emphasizing video delivery and related services such as security and origin services. “We really see content delivery as our core product… we always think about it in the context of the content delivery workflow,” she said.
CDN77 is a bootstrapped company that has not taken any external funding since its founding. Katerina highlighted that this approach keeps them financially disciplined and focused on customer satisfaction. “We’ve been profitable and cash-flow positive for 11 consecutive years,” she stated, emphasizing that their sustainable growth model is based on maintaining profitability and a positive cash flow.
Katerina noted that CDN77 views its clients as the ultimate investors, which drives their commitment to long-term customer satisfaction. This perspective allows the company to stay focused on delivering consistent value without pressure from external stakeholders.
CDN Market Challenges and CDN77’s Strategic Approach
Katerina discussed the recent shifts in the CDN market, including price competition and the exit of some companies. She acknowledged the industry’s challenges but pointed out that CDN77’s financial stability gives it a competitive advantage.
“Financial stability is something that… I would definitely look at,” Katerina said, highlighting the importance of choosing a CDN partner that will remain sustainable in the long term. She explained that CDN77’s approach balances fast growth with financial discipline, allowing them to offer competitive pricing while maintaining profitability.
Katerina also emphasized the importance of staying focused and not diversifying too broadly. “We stay very focused… on video delivery specifically,” she explained. This specialization allows CDN77 to continuously improve its core services and deliver high-quality performance.
Choosing a CDN: Key Factors to Consider
Katerina shared her insights on what customers should prioritize when selecting a CDN:
- Performance and Stability: The top priority, as CDN performance is critical for all online businesses.
- Price: Although pricing is competitive, she noted that it should be balanced with performance and reliability.
- Customer Service and Customization: CDN77 offers 24/7 in-house engineering support and aims to be as responsive as possible to customer needs.
- Financial Health and Long-Term Stability: Katerina emphasized the importance of choosing a CDN partner that is financially sustainable and reliable. “If I were looking for a CDN… I would definitely look at, ‘Will you be here in five years?’” she said, stressing the need for long-term partnerships.
She also noted the importance of customization, explaining that CDN77 aims to be flexible and adaptable to each customer’s needs, avoiding rigid packages or aggressive upselling.
CDN77’s Global Infrastructure and Network Philosophy
Katerina highlighted CDN77’s commitment to owning and operating its entire infrastructure rather than reselling or white-labeling third-party solutions. She explained that CDN77 manages a global network with over 215 Tbps capacity, interconnected by a 20 Tbps private backbone.
“All hardware is our own… we’re not reselling anything,” she explained, emphasizing the importance of full control over infrastructure for performance and stability. CDN77’s network philosophy is to minimize reliance on third-party transit providers and ensure redundancy across its global network.
Katerina added that CDN77’s global presence is robust, with 30% of traffic in Europe, 30% in North America, and growing market share in APAC and Latin America. She noted that CDN77 is particularly focused on expanding its reach in North America while maintaining consistent service quality worldwide.
Range of Services: Beyond Content Delivery
While content delivery is the core focus, Katerina explained that CDN77 offers a range of services within the content workflow, including:
- Content Processing and Origin Services
- Security Features integrated as part of the content delivery system
She noted that CDN77 takes an integrated approach, viewing these services as natural extensions of content delivery rather than separate products. “We’re not trying to upsell… we very often offer it for free because we really think it’s a natural part of the ecosystem,” she explained.
This strategy is rooted in CDN77’s customer-centric approach, which prioritizes long-term client satisfaction and avoids aggressive cross-selling. Katerina emphasized that their goal is to build sustainable relationships rather than maximizing short-term revenue.
Experience at Mile High Video 2025
Reflecting on her experience at Mile High Video 2025, Katerina praised the event for its strong community and insightful discussions. “We really love the community… it’s very insightful and very dense in knowledge,” she said.
She noted that CDN77 values Mile High Video for its focus on technical knowledge and industry trends, and that the event offers a unique opportunity for meaningful networking. Katerina expressed CDN77’s commitment to supporting the conference as a sponsor and confirmed that they plan to return next year.
Conclusion and Key Takeaways
This interview provides an in-depth look at CDN77’s approach to content delivery, profitability, and long-term customer relationships. By focusing on video delivery, financial stability, and a client-centric business model, CDN77 differentiates itself in the competitive CDN market.
Katerina’s insights highlight the importance of choosing a CDN partner based on performance, stability, and financial health. She also explained how CDN77’s bootstrap model and strategic focus allow them to maintain profitability while continuously enhancing their core services.
Watch the full interview to learn more about CDN77’s vision, Katerina’s perspectives on industry trends, and the future of content delivery.
