Yospace Joins Akamai Compute Program to Scale Edge-Based Server-Side Ad Insertion

By moving ad-stitching logic to the edge, streaming operators can reduce the latency overhead typically associated with personalized ad delivery. For Akamai, the move solidifies its shift from a pure CDN to a general-purpose cloud computing provider capable of hosting mission-critical media workloads. In a market where live-linear and FAST growth are driving demand for dynamic ad insertion, this integration provides a pre-validated stack that competes directly with hyperscale cloud-native ad services from AWS and Google. Industry strategists should watch for the performance delta between edge-deployed SSAI and centralized cloud alternatives during high-concurrency live events.

The strategic importance of edge-based monetization has intensified as Akamai transforms its business model following the $900 million acquisition of Linode in 2022. Per CIO Dive in February 2025, Akamai reported that its compute revenues grew 25% to $630 million in 2024, with security and compute now accounting for over 60% of total company revenue. This shift away from legacy CDN services is driven by the Akamai Connected Cloud, which aims to undercut hyperscaler egress fees and bring compute resources closer to end-users to support low-latency applications like live sports streaming.

Yospace remains a dominant player in the SSAI market, recently demonstrating the massive scale required for global broadcasters. Per TVBEurope in September 2024, Yospace powered nearly six billion addressable advertisements across four continents during Euro 2024 and another four billion during the Paris Olympics. The company also extended its decade-long partnership with Channel 4 in September 2024 to support the broadcaster’s digital-first strategy for its 30 million registered users. These high-volume use cases explain why media companies are seeking more distributed infrastructure to manage 1-to-1 ad delivery without exhausting centralized data center resources.

While SSAI is the current industry standard for avoiding ad-blockers and ensuring smooth playback, the sector is also monitoring the rise of Server-Guided Ad Insertion (SGAI). Industry group DVB launched a survey in February 2026 to track the adoption of SGAI, which aims to combine server-side efficiency with client-side measurement flexibility. Despite these emerging methods, SSAI continues to lead for live-streamed major events due to its ability to delivery frame-accurate, broadcast-grade experiences across a fragmented device landscape including Roku, Fire TV, and major gaming consoles.