Optimizing network load in multicast communications

An apparatus comprising a computing device, a computer processor, and a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions that, when executed by the computer processor, cause the apparatus to carry out the steps of:

• receiving, at a first interface of a first router from a second router, a multicast packet for a multicast group;
• determining whether a time to live (TTL) value of the multicast packet is equal to zero;
• and
• sending, in response to determining that the TTL value of the multicast packet is equal to zero, a Protocol Independent Multicast prune message on the first interface of the first router, wherein the Protocol Independent Multicast prune message comprises a request to stop receiving multicast traffic for the multicast group.

A computer program product comprising a non-volatile computer readable storage medium and computer program instructions stored therein that are configured to, when executed by a processor, cause a computer to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, at a first interface of a first router from a second router, a multicast packet for a multicast group;
• determining whether a time to live (TTL) value of the multicast packet is equal to zero;
• and
• sending, in response to determining that the TTL value of the multicast packet is equal to zero, a Protocol Independent Multicast prune message on the first interface of the first router, wherein the Protocol Independent Multicast prune message comprises a request to stop receiving multicast traffic for the multicast group.