Lumen Technologies Named Top-Tier Software Vendor by APPS RUN THE WORLD in the APPS TOP 500 Market Report

Lumen Technologies Strengths, Domain Expertise, and Key Differentiators

Lumen Technologies is strategically positioning itself as a leader in the AI-driven digital infrastructure space, leveraging its expansive fiber network and edge computing capabilities to meet the evolving demands of enterprise customers. The company’s recent board appointments—Michelle J. Goldberg and Steve McMillan—underscore its commitment to innovation and digital transformation, bringing deep expertise in early-stage technology, cloud services, and data analytics. Lumen’s focus on enabling secure, high-performance connectivity for AI workloads and multi-cloud environments reflects a forward-looking strategy that aligns with market trends. This transformation is supported by a robust leadership team and a clear vision to unlock new growth opportunities through next-generation networking solutions.

Lumen Technologies Recent Developments

In May 2025, Lumen announced a new collaboration to develop enterprise-grade AI solutions at the edge—integrating watsonx, IBM’s portfolio of AI products, with Lumen’s Edge Cloud infrastructure and network. Together, Lumen and IBM aim to bring powerful, real-time AI inferencing closer to where data is generated, helping companies overcome cost, latency, and security barriers as they scale AI adoption and enhance customer experiences. In May 2025, Lumen announced it is putting the strength of its global threat intelligence that safeguards its own infrastructure into the hands of enterprise businesses. Lumen DefenderSM Plus, built entirely on Lumen's network and powered by the advanced threat intelligence capabilities of Black Lotus Labs, is designed to automatically block internet-based cyber threats at the network edge – including bots, malware, spam, phishing, Command and Control (C2) and proxy activity before they ever reach a business's environment. In April 2025, as the trusted network for AI, Lumen Technologies announced that it is partnering with Google Cloud to deliver advanced cloud and network solutions that meet the rising demands of enterprise customers—particularly amid the rapid growth of AI workloads across industries. In November 2024, Lumen Technologies announced a partnership with Google Cloud that is accelerating Lumen's digital transformation and driving innovation for billions of Google customers. In July 2024, Lumen Technologies and Microsoft Corp. announced a new strategic partnership that will use the Microsoft Cloud to further drive Lumen's digital transformation. In addition, Microsoft has chosen Lumen to expand its network capacity and capability to meet the growing demand on its datacenters due to AI. In May 2024, Lumen Technologies launched Lumen DefenderSM, an AI/ML-driven cybersecurity solution powered by Black Lotus Labs®, to enhance threat detection and defense at the network edge. Leveraging its global internet backbone and proprietary threat intelligence, Lumen aims to proactively block evolving cyber threats before they compromise business networks. This development strengthens Lumen’s cybersecurity offerings, reinforcing its position as a key player in network security amid the rising sophistication of cyberattacks. In November 2022, Lumen Technologies introduced its Edge Bare Metal services tailored for the Asia Pacific (""APAC"") market, reinforcing its commitment to bolstering edge infrastructure and services in the region. This initiative aims to support enterprise innovation and accommodate data-intensive applications amidst the advancements of the 4th Industrial Revolution. In July 2021, Lumen Technologies sold its Latin American business to Stonepeak, an alternative investment firm, for $2.7 billion. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, Lumen will divest its Latin American business, which will operate as an independent, U.S. headquartered portfolio company of Stonepeak. The current Latin American leadership team and organization will remain in place, led by Hector Alonso, Lumen's president for the region. Lumen will also retain a strategic relationship with the New LATAM Company and continue to serve joint customers in the region.

Lumen Technologies Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Activities

Strategic Divestitures: In recent years, Lumen has shifted focus toward enterprise services and digital infrastructure by divesting non-core assets. In 2021, it sold its incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) business in 20 states to Apollo Global Management for $7.5 billion, leading to the creation of Brightspeed. This move allowed Lumen to streamline operations and reinvest in high-growth areas. In 2022, it divested its EMEA business for $1.8 billion, and in 2023, it sold select content delivery customer contracts. Most recently, in May 2025, Lumen announced the $5.8 billion sale of its Mass Markets fiber-to-the-home business, including Quantum Fiber, to AT&T.

Evolving Strategy: These M&A activities reflect Lumen’s strategic pivot from legacy telecom services to a focus on enterprise-grade networking, edge computing, and AI-ready infrastructure. The company has consistently targeted acquisitions in the information technology and communications sectors, while divesting consumer-facing and regional assets to sharpen its enterprise focus.

Lumen Technologies Customers in ARTW Customer Database

Leveraging a rigorous data-centric research methodology, APPS RUN THE WORLD asks the simple question: Who’s buying Lumen Technologies applications and why? And we provide the answers – supported by decades of research – to our clients around the world. Our Customer database has over 100 data fields that detail company usage of Lumen Technologies and other enterprise apps by function, customer size, industry, location, implementation status, partner involvement, Line of Business Key Stakeholders and IT decision makers contact details. List of Verified Lumen Paltform, LumenSM EZ Route customers.

Lumen Technologies Key Enterprise and Cloud Applications

Lumen Paltform, LumenSM EZ Route

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Lumen Technologies Direct vs Indirect sales

Lumen Technologies Customers - Breakdown by Geo, Size, Vertical and Product

List of Verified Lumen Technologies Customers

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Lumen Technologies supports a diverse and global customer base through its extensive network infrastructure, which includes approximately 450,000 route miles of fiber optic cable spanning North America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia Pacific. This robust terrestrial and subsea long-haul network is seamlessly integrated with metropolitan fiber networks operated by Lumen, enabling high-performance connectivity for enterprises, governments, and service providers. With services available in over 60 countries and a strong concentration of revenue generated in the United States, Lumen is well-positioned to meet the complex digital needs of its customers across industries and geographies.

Lumen Technologies Market Opportunities, M&A and Geo Expansions

In March 2024, Lumen Technologies appointed Ryan Asdourian as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, a move that presents a strategic opportunity to enhance the company's brand and marketing efforts. Asdourian brings 20 years of leadership experience from Microsoft, including overseeing the Security business group and driving P&L, sales enablement, and marketing. His diverse background in product marketing and business development positions him to accelerate Lumen's growth, strengthen its brand presence, and further drive innovation in its product and corporate communications strategy.

In August 2024, Lumen Technologies secured $5 billion in new business, driven by the surging demand for connectivity fueled by AI. As enterprises across industries compete for fiber capacity, Lumen is well-positioned to capitalize on this growing market need. With an additional $7 billion in active sales discussions, the company has a significant opportunity to expand its revenue streams, strengthen its position in the AI-driven connectivity market, and maximize the value of its fiber network amid increasing demand.

In October 2024, Lumen Technologies appointed Chris Capossela to its board of directors, presenting a strategic opportunity to enhance its market positioning and digital transformation efforts. With over 30 years at Microsoft, including a decade as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Capossela brings extensive expertise in global marketing, digital sales, and business strategy. His leadership can help strengthen Lumen’s brand presence, improve customer engagement, and drive innovation, positioning the company for long-term growth in the competitive telecom and cloud services markets.

Lumen Technologies' partnership with Google Cloud presents a significant opportunity to enhance its digital transformation and AI-driven network operations. By leveraging Google Cloud’s infrastructure, databases, and BigQuery analytics, Lumen has developed the AI-powered Lumen® Digital Twin, enabling real-time network insights and proactive issue resolution. This collaboration strengthens Lumen’s operational efficiency, improves customer experience, and positions the company as a leader in AI-driven network management, enhancing its competitive edge in the telecom and cloud services market.

Lumen Technologies Risks and Challenges

Lumen Technologies faces challenges in executing its digital transformation, including the need for efficient resource allocation, streamlining its product portfolio, and accelerating product deployments. The retirement of legacy systems, data migration, and workforce adaptation present operational and technical risks. Additionally, system development complexities and potential disruptions could impact service delivery and overall transformation success.

Lumen Technologies Ecosystem, Partners, Resellers and SI

In December 2024 Lumen Technologies secured a strategic partnership with Prometheus Hyperscale to provide network services for its energy-efficient data centers. This collaboration positions Lumen as a key enabler of AI, big data, and cloud computing growth while reinforcing its role in addressing the AI industry's environmental challenges. The deal strengthens Lumen’s presence in the hyperscale data center market and aligns with its digital infrastructure expansion strategy.

In October 2021, Lumen Technologies expanded its partnership with Cisco to include a new offering: Lumen Solutions for Cisco Unified Communications Manager Cloud. This new product pairs Cisco's most advanced, cloud-based collaboration services with the reliability and speed of Lumen's global fiber network, which makes it an ideal solution for businesses that have already invested in Cisco Webex, or those that are considering it. Lumen sells its products and services primarily through direct sales representatives, inbound call centers, telemarketing and third parties, including telecommunications agents, system integrators, value-added resellers and other telecommunications firms. Lumen also has partnership agreements with different technology partners.

Research Methodology

Data used in research reports are derived from publicly available documents, continuous surveys of applications vendors, customers, resellers, Independent Software Vendors, systems integrators and other verifiable sources.

Vendor shares and market forecast results are based on a combination of existing databases as well as demand side and supply side research conducted throughout the year with validation from vendors, customers, channel partners and documentations such as earnings releases and 10Q and 10K filings, vertical industry studies, regional and country-level statistics from public and private institutions(i.e. colleges, universities, government agencies and trade associations).

For additional information on our methodologies, here's the link: