The company offers high-speed Ethernet and IP services in 16 major metropolitan markets across the U.S. and more than 70 third-party data centers.
The rise of artificial intelligence and the growth of multicloud architectures are driving enterprise network demand to historic levels. In this context, Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) has announced a strategic expansion of its data center connectivity network across the United States, capable of delivering Ethernet and IP services up to 400 Gbps in over 70 interconnected data centers distributed across 16 key metropolitan areas.
The goal is clear: to create the digital foundation of an AI-driven economy with secure, scalable, and cost-efficient infrastructure.
Infrastructure for the AI era
“This investment is not just about faster connections; it’s about laying the digital groundwork for an economy where AI plays a leading role,” said Ashley-Haynes Gaspar, Lumen’s Chief Revenue Officer. “We are giving customers what they need most: performance, flexibility, and speed at scale, whether it’s activating a single connection or orchestrating thousands of AI workloads across different cities.”
Thanks to Lumen’s extensive fiber network, businesses can provision bandwidth in minutes, scale up to 400 Gbps, and pay only for actual usage. This facilitates connections to data centers and cloud on-ramps, enables scalability of critical applications, and helps manage costs in environments with fluctuating demands, typical of generative AI, big data, and machine learning projects.
Analysts’ perspective
Ghassan Abdo, Vice President of Research in Telecommunications at IDC, states that this strategy directly addresses current market needs:
“Lumen’s investment in high-speed connectivity to key data centers is a strategic move to anticipate the AI boom, where the network is becoming an essential resource. This expansion supports AI-focused planning and multicloud architectures, ensuring high-performance environments for enterprise applications—vital drivers of the digital economy.”
Strategic metropolitan markets
Up to 400 Gbps connectivity is now available in these key U.S. markets:
- Northern Virginia
- Atlanta
- Chicago
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Kansas City
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Minneapolis
- New York
- Phoenix
- Portland
- San Antonio (from Q4 2025)
- San Jose
- Seattle
In all these markets, customers can access high-performance solutions such as:
- Ethernet On-Demand – flexible, real-time activated connectivity.
- Internet On-Demand – scalable, on-demand internet access.
- E-Line – point-to-point Ethernet for secure, predictable transport.
- E-LAN – multipoint interconnectivity for distributed enterprise networks.
- E-Access – simplified access to broader Ethernet networks.
Low latency and multicloud reach
Lumen’s network is designed to offer less than 5 milliseconds of latency at the edge, covering 97% of enterprise demand in the U.S. It also enables direct connectivity with all major cloud providers, over 2,200 third-party data centers, and 163,000 on-net customer locations.
Through this, Lumen combines coverage, performance, and automation, providing a pay-as-you-go model tailored for companies seeking efficiency without compromising security.
A long-term commitment
The company plans ongoing investments in its network, aiming to reach 47 million miles of intercity fiber by 2028. According to Lumen, these are targeted, strategic investments in high-growth markets to establish a modern, flexible digital infrastructure supporting enterprise needs in the coming years.
“This is just the beginning,” Haynes-Gaspar concluded. “As companies compete to leverage AI, Lumen is building the network foundation they need to move faster, scale smarter, and lead digital transformation.”
Final thoughts
Lumen’s expansion arrives at a critical moment for companies looking to accelerate AI and multicloud adoption without sacrificing cost or security. With its focus on 400 Gbps on-demand, automation, and ultralow latencies, the company not only responds to the increasing pressures of the digital age but positions itself as a key player in providing infrastructure for the AI-powered economy.
Source: Lumen press release