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Rhea-AI Summary

Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) announced its Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) platform has exceeded 1,000 customers, positioning the company to support AI-driven enterprise connectivity with on-demand, self-service networking across offices, hyperscalers, and data centers.

The release highlights Lumen’s network scale—approximately 163,000 on-net buildings and 340,000 global fiber route miles—and a target to expand to 47 million intercity fiber miles by end of 2028, plus plans to scale beyond 100G and upgrade backbone capacity in key routes.

Positive

• 1,000+ NaaS customers attained
• 163,000 on-net buildings supporting low-latency connectivity
• 340,000 global fiber route miles of existing network
• Target to reach 47 million intercity fiber miles by end of 2028

Negative

• None.

Insights

Network Services Strategist

Lumen's NaaS passing 1,000 customers signals tangible commercial traction for programmable, AI-ready enterprise connectivity.

Lumen reached a clear usage milestone—over 1,000 customers—for its Network-as-a-Service suite launched at the end of 2023. The platform packages instant on-demand Internet, Ethernet, and IP VPN connectivity with integrated security features such as DDoS Essentials and Lumen Defender, and it reports connection into major hyperscalers via cloud on-ramps. The combination of self-service provisioning and dynamic bandwidth targets fast deployment needs for complex enterprise workflows.

The company cites scale metrics—approximately 163,000 on-net buildings and 340,000 global fiber route miles—and a stated infrastructure objective to reach end of 2028 goals for 47 million intercity fiber miles and backbone upgrades. These capital-intensive targets create execution dependencies: meeting the stated expansion requires continued funding, timely buildouts, and operational integration of upgraded capacity. The announcement provides no financial figures, margin impacts, or measurable churn/ARPU data, so commercial momentum is observable but not quantified.

Watch adoption and infrastructure milestones over the next 12–36 months: customer growth beyond the reported 1,000, any disclosed revenue or recurring-contract metrics, and progress toward the end of 2028 fiber expansion and capacity upgrades. Also monitor published security incident metrics and third-party validation of service performance; those items will materially influence enterprise purchasing decisions and the durability of this stated momentum.

Milestone and momentum underscores demand for a new kind of programmable enterprise network built for the AI economy

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) today announced it has exceeded 1,000 customers on its Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) platform—a major milestone in the shift toward faster, smarter enterprise connectivity. As businesses embrace AI to transform operations, the demand for agile, scalable connectivity has never been greater. Lumen’s NaaS platform meets this need with instant speed, control, and scalability, helping companies modernize without the complexity of legacy infrastructure.

“This is a landmark milestone to observe as we continue to focus on what enterprises need, where the world is going, and where we lead,” said Ashley Haynes-Gaspar, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer, Lumen Technologies. “Lumen’s NaaS is built for the pace of modern business: fast, secure, scalable, and easy to use. And while we celebrate every new customer, it is wonderful to call out this signpost on our journey to power the next generation of business.”

Lumen NaaS is a comprehensive suite of services designed to revolutionize how businesses procure and manage networking in the digital age. By combining instant, on-demand resources with advanced networking technologies, Lumen NaaS empowers organizations to improve business agility, reduce operational overhead, and support next-gen digital experiences. Lumen equips enterprises with the flexible, high-performance connectivity they require through a portfolio of innovative services and helps enable seamless access to hyperscalers such as AWS, Microsoft, and Google Cloud, as well as third-party data centers via strategically located cloud on-ramps.

Since launching at the end of 2023, Lumen NaaS has been recognized as the 2024 NaaS Service Provider of the Year throughout North America¹ and continues to expand throughout the U.S.—offering dynamic bandwidth and edge-to-core automation to help enterprises compete in an AI-driven economy.

NaaS Connectivity in Minutes, Fortified for the AI Era

Customers can digitally connect applications across offices, hyperscalers, and data centers using private or public connectivity within minutes via self-service, with the flexibility to scale capacity up or down based on business needs and variable demand.

The suite of services includes Internet On-Demand for public connectivity, Ethernet On-Demand for layer 2 private connectivity, and IP VPN On-Demand for layer 3 private connectivity. Available security features for Internet On-Demand include DDoS Essentials for automated, multi-layered volumetric attack protection, and Lumen Defender℠, powered by Black Lotus Labs, to provide threat intelligence and proactively block malicious traffic before it reaches the network perimeter.

Enterprises Winning with Lumen NaaS

Enterprises across industries are using the platform to solve real-world, complex challenges like cloud migration and SaaS integration, streamline operations during mergers and acquisitions, and power high-stakes performances—from live sports broadcasts to global media events.

Lumen NaaS has attracted top-tier brands including Best Buy, C3Aero, Churchill Downs ® Racetrack, Clearway Energy Group, Columbia Sportswear Company, Hanmi Bank, IVision, Foot Locker, MTN Satellite Communications, and Pac-12 Enterprises.

Here’s what some of them are saying:

• “By partnering with Lumen, C3Aero was able to deploy internet services quickly and efficiently, allowing us to focus on our core business of providing cutting-edge technology solutions to the aviation industry.” —John Speranza, Founder and CEO, C3Aero
• "When you're hosting one of the greatest sporting spectacles on Earth, speed matters — and not just on the track. With Network-as-a-Service technology, we can bring high-capacity, secure connections online in minutes to power everything from media coverage to vendor support and guest Wi-Fi. It's that kind of behind-the-scenes innovation that ensures Derby Week runs smoothly and delivers unforgettable experiences to fans in the stands and around the globe." —Mike Wood, Senior IT Director, Churchill Downs ® Racetrack
• “Partnering with Lumen and leveraging their NaaS experience has significantly boosted our DRaaS/BaaS capabilities. The dynamic bandwidth provisioning and effortless service initiation enable us to provide superior customer service.” —Clint St. Romain, Architect, Managed Services, IVision

NaaS-Ready Network for What’s Next

The Lumen NaaS platform is built on top of one of the world’s most expansive and deeply interconnected networks. With approximately 163,000 on-net buildings and 340,000 global fiber route miles, Lumen’s scale enables low-latency, ultra-high-capacity, and AI-optimized connectivity across enterprise corridors, cloud regions, and edge locations.

Lumen is continuing to invest in the network, expanding its on-net footprint with a goal to reach 47 million intercity fiber miles by the end of 2028, scaling beyond 100G, and upgrading backbone capacity across key metro and intercity routes. These investments of targeted infrastructure upgrades and strategic capital funding to support fiber builds in high-growth markets are Lumen’s foundation for delivering the flexible digital infrastructure and connectivity that modern enterprises demand.

Watch this short video to see how Lumen NaaS delivers instant, secure, and scalable connectivity.

Learn more at Internet On-Demand | Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) | Lumen.

1	Recognized by MPLIFY, formerly MEF, as 2024 NaaS Service Provider of the Year – North America.

About Lumen Technologies
Lumen is unleashing the world's digital potential. We ignite business growth by connecting people, data, and applications – quickly, securely, and effortlessly. As the trusted network for AI, Lumen uses the scale of our network to help companies realize AI's full potential. From metro connectivity to long-haul data transport to our edge cloud, security, managed service, and digital platform capabilities, we meet our customers’ needs today and as they build for tomorrow.

For news and insights visit news.lumen.com, LinkedIn: /lumentechnologies, X: lumentechco, Facebook: /lumentechnologies, Instagram: @lumentechnologies and YouTube: /lumentechnologies. Lumen and Lumen Technologies are registered trademarks of Lumen Technologies LLC in the United States. Lumen Technologies LLC is a wholly-owned affiliate of Lumen Technologies, Inc.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250813331510/en/

Media Relations:

Rachael Adair

rachael.adair@lumen.com

+1 971-361-3276

Source: Lumen Technologies

FAQ

What milestone did Lumen (LUMN) announce on October 17, 2025?

Lumen announced its NaaS platform has exceeded 1,000 customers.

How large is Lumen's network footprint reported on October 17, 2025?

Lumen cited about 163,000 on-net buildings and 340,000 global fiber route miles.

What is Lumen's fiber expansion goal announced for 2028?

Lumen targets reaching 47 million intercity fiber miles by the end of 2028.

Which on-demand connectivity options does Lumen NaaS provide for enterprises?

The suite includes Internet On-Demand, Ethernet On-Demand, and IP VPN On-Demand with scalable capacity.

Does Lumen NaaS include security features and what are they?

Yes; Internet On-Demand can include DDoS Essentials and Lumen Defender for threat intelligence and attack protection.

Which customers and use cases did Lumen highlight for NaaS adoption?

Lumen named customers like Best Buy, Churchill Downs, Foot Locker, and use cases such as cloud migration, M&A integration, and live event connectivity.