Lumen Targets AI Bottlenecks with New Multi-Cloud Gateway and Metro Expansion

Key Terms

multi-cloud gateway technical

A multi-cloud gateway is a software layer that directs and secures data and applications across more than one cloud service, acting like a traffic controller and security checkpoint that connects an organization’s systems to multiple cloud providers. For investors, it matters because it affects a company's flexibility, cost control, operational risk and ability to scale—improving resilience and avoiding dependence on a single provider can protect revenue and reduce unexpected expenses.

software-defined technical

software-defined describes systems where functions traditionally built into physical hardware are implemented and controlled by software, letting one physical device behave like many by changing code. Think of it as a programmable appliance that can be reconfigured with updates rather than replaced. Investors care because it can cut capital costs, speed new features to market, enable subscription or service revenue, and make products more adaptable — but it also shifts value toward software skill and ongoing maintenance.

network fabric technical

A network fabric is the underlying system of hardware and software that routes data between computers, servers and storage so applications can communicate quickly and reliably — think of it as the road network and traffic control for a company’s digital operations. Investors care because a modern, efficient fabric improves performance, lowers operating costs, and makes it easier to scale or add new services, which can affect revenue, margins and risk.

metro data center connectivity technical

Metro data center connectivity is the network of high-capacity, low-latency links that tie together data centers, telecom carriers and business customers within a single metropolitan area. Investors care because these local connections enable faster cloud services, trading, streaming and backups — similar to how a well-designed system of roads and local delivery routes keeps goods moving quickly — and they can drive recurring revenue, pricing power and competitive advantage for infrastructure owners.

edge locations technical

Edge locations are small, local data centers or network hubs placed close to users to store and deliver content and run lightweight computing tasks. Like neighborhood distribution centers that shorten delivery times, they reduce delay and improve user experience for websites, apps, and streaming services. For investors, a broad and well-placed edge footprint can mean lower operating costs, better service quality, faster scaling, and a competitive advantage for companies relying on digital products.

policy technical

A policy is a formal rule or course of action set by a government, regulator, or company that guides decisions and behavior. Like a thermostat setting the temperature for a room or a traffic law shaping how drivers act, policies influence costs, market access, legal risk and future growth; investors watch them because changes can alter a company’s revenue prospects, expenses and overall investment risk.

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New enterprise capabilities are designed to accelerate data movement across distributed AI environments while lowering complexity and total cost

DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As AI drives explosive data growth, enterprises are under increasing pressure to move information quickly and securely across clouds, data centers, and distributed locations. In response, Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) today announced an expansion of its enterprise networking portfolio with Lumen Multi-Cloud Gateway and enhanced metro data center connectivity across major U.S. markets.

“Moving data across hybrid environments is a lot like managing air traffic – you need clear routes, predictable timing, and the ability to adjust when conditions change. Most legacy networks weren’t built for that level of coordination,” said Jim Fowler, Lumen chief technology and product officer. “With our expanded network fabric, Lumen gives enterprises a way to move data securely, effortlessly, and consistently across clouds, data centers, and edge locations, designed to reduce the complexity that hold AI-driven operations back.”

How Lumen is Simplifying Connectivity
Lumen’s expansion simplifies how data moves across hybrid environments by bringing both centralized multi-cloud routing and high-capacity private metro connectivity. The result is a more consistent, controllable networking foundation for AI and other modern workloads.

• Multi-Cloud Gateway: Multi-Cloud Gateway (MCGW) is a core element of Lumen’s shift to cloud-based telecom. Built as a software-defined, self-service routing layer on Lumen’s global fiber network, MCGW provides private, high-capacity connectivity among enterprises, hyperscalers and emerging cloud platforms. It turns traditional telecom interconnection into a programmable cloud fabric, allowing customers to dynamically connect cloud-to-cloud and cloud-to-enterprise environments, optimize traffic for performance and cost, and support advanced use cases such as AI workload distribution and real-time data exchange. By unifying connectivity, routing and policy, MCGW is designed to reduce operational complexity, speed time to service and lower total cost of ownership.

• Metro Ethernet & IP Services: Expanded high-capacity, dedicated connectivity across 16 U.S. markets, delivering up to 100Gbps between regional data centers, campuses, and edge locations and up to 400Gbps at key cloud data centers in those markets. This enables fast, secure movement of massive datasets for AI training, analytics, replication, and disaster recovery.
  • Recently upgraded markets include Northern Virginia; Atlanta; Chicago; Columbus; Dallas; Denver; Kansas City; Las Vegas; Los Angeles; Minneapolis; New York City; Phoenix; Portland; San Antonio; San Jose; and Seattle.

“AI is reshaping network design, pushing enterprises to move from experimentation to execution with architectures that reduce latency, cost variability, and operational complexity,” said Courtney Munroe, Vice President, Worldwide Telecommunications Research at IDC. “As workloads become more distributed and performance sensitive, organizations are rethinking how they connect edge sites, data centers, and multiple clouds, and Lumen’s network fabric shows how programmable networks can deliver more consistent data movement.”

Why It Matters for Enterprises
The business impact is immediate and practical for industries scaling their AI ambitions:

• Financial Services: Keep risk, payments, and fraud workloads synchronized across multiple clouds with centralized policy control for lower latency and more predictable performance.
• Retail: Improve business agility by accelerating data movement across cloud and enterprise environments, so analytics keep pace with changing demand.
• Healthcare: Maintain data separation, support telehealth services, imaging and analytics, disaster recovery, and manage research workloads across institutions and resource centers.
• Manufacturing: Connect regional facilities and cloud environments to enable real-time analytics and predictive maintenance.

When networks shift from constraint to enabler, organizations can move faster, scale with confidence, and unlock greater innovation. To learn more about these products and availability timelines, visit Multi-Cloud Gateway and Connectivity Services.

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.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including statements regarding management’s expectations with respect to our business, strategy and operations as well as statements identified by words such as “estimates,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “plans,” “intends,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are not promises nor guarantees of future results, are based on our current expectations only and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as updated in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated by us in these statements due to several factors, including those referenced in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260217437075/en/

Rachael Adair
rachael.adair@lumen.com

Source: Lumen Technologies