Lumen Technologies is actively expanding its strategic service offerings while simultaneously phasing out legacy infrastructure to improve overall business profitability, according to a recent report by CRN.
During its third-quarter 2026 earnings call, Lumen President and CEO Kate Johnson highlighted a 20% increase in global public internet backbone traffic, driven largely by a 1,000% surge in artificial intelligence-related demand since April. To support this growth, the Monroe, Louisiana-based company secured $700 million in new Private Connectivity Fabric agreements and integrated cloud networking specialist Alkira to bolster its Network as a Service platform. Currently, over 4,000 customers utilize the company's network services.
Simultaneously, the firm is accelerating the decommissioning of legacy copper infrastructure across states including Iowa, Florida, Nevada, and Utah, targeting 25% of its total copper footprint. While total business revenue dipped 4% to $2.35 billion, strategic revenues grew 10% to $1.28 billion. The company also expanded its partnership with Microsoft to integrate the Lumen platform into enterprise sales motions, aiming to capture demand where cloud and network modernization intersect. Despite these strategic pivots, the company reported a net loss of $265 million for the quarter, missing Wall Street expectations.
Source: CRN
