An apparatus for extending Content Delivery Network, CDN, capability, comprising: a hardware processor; a cache; computer memory holding computer program instructions executed by the processor to perform a method, the method comprising: receiving a request for content from an end-user; in response to the request for content: (i) determining whether the content is of a first type or a second type, the first type being content that is adapted to be delivered over a content delivery network distinct from the apparatus, the second type being distinct from the first type; (ii) when the content is of a first type and is located in the cache and is not stale, sending a forward request to the CDN and receiving a cache handling directive from the CDN, wherein the cache communicates with the CDN synchronously to receive the cache handling directive from the CDN, and applying the cache handling directive received from the CDN and serving the content to the requesting end-user in accordance therewith; and (iii) when the content is of the second type, transparently caching and serving the content to the requesting end-user. a hardware processor; a cache; computer memory holding computer program instructions executed by the processor to perform a method, the method comprising: receiving a request for content from an end-user; in response to the request for content: (i) determining whether the content is of a first type or a second type, the first type being content that is adapted to be delivered over a content delivery network distinct from the apparatus, the second type being distinct from the first type; (ii) when the content is of a first type and is located in the cache and is not stale, sending a forward request to the CDN and receiving a cache handling directive from the CDN, wherein the cache communicates with the CDN synchronously to receive the cache handling directive from the CDN, and applying the cache handling directive received from the CDN and serving the content to the requesting end-user in accordance therewith; and (iii) when the content is of the second type, transparently caching and serving the content to the requesting end-user. receiving a request for content from an end-user; in response to the request for content: (i) determining whether the content is of a first type or a second type, the first type being content that is adapted to be delivered over a content delivery network distinct from the apparatus, the second type being distinct from the first type; (ii) when the content is of a first type and is located in the cache and is not stale, sending a forward request to the CDN and receiving a cache handling directive from the CDN, wherein the cache communicates with the CDN synchronously to receive the cache handling directive from the CDN, and applying the cache handling directive received from the CDN and serving the content to the requesting end-user in accordance therewith; and (iii) when the content is of the second type, transparently caching and serving the content to the requesting end-user. (i) determining whether the content is of a first type or a second type, the first type being content that is adapted to be delivered over a content delivery network distinct from the apparatus, the second type being distinct from the first type; (ii) when the content is of a first type and is located in the cache and is not stale, sending a forward request to the CDN and receiving a cache handling directive from the CDN, wherein the cache communicates with the CDN synchronously to receive the cache handling directive from the CDN, and applying the cache handling directive received from the CDN and serving the content to the requesting end-user in accordance therewith; and (iii) when the content is of the second type, transparently caching and serving the content to the requesting end-user.