Lumen Technologies announced an agreement to acquire Alkira as part of its Programmable Network strategy. The acquisition combines Lumen’s fiber network with Alkira’s cloud-native control plane to deliver a unified digital networking platform for enterprises.
The programmable network approach enables enterprises to manage Cloud Connectivity across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. Additionally, it simplifies network management by consolidating operations into a single control plane. Lumen intends to deliver a cloud-like experience for managing enterprise network infrastructure. As a result, this approach improves speed, scalability, and flexibility.
“For decades, networking ran in the background. Today, it’s the central nervous system, determining how fast you can move, how much you spend, and whether your AI investments produce value,” said Kate Johnson, CEO of Lumen Technologies. “With Alkira, Lumen will pair the trusted network for AI with a cloud-native control plane, which will give customers a programmable network designed for the AI era. It’s what the market needs, and it’s what we’re building at Lumen.”
- Platform Acceleration: Following the integration, Alkira will combine Lumen’s offerings into one programmable platform, thus accelerating its digital strategy.
- Addressable Market Growth: Lumen’s current concentration on north-south connectivity will change due to east-west connectivity with Alkira, enabling Lumen to grow its addressable market to almost $70 billion.
- Growth Internationally: Thanks to the carrier-agnostic architecture of Alkira, Lumen will be able to expand its network internationally by utilizing local assets without significant investments in fibers.
- Integration of Partners: Alkira’s platform will enhance connections within Lumen’s network and fast-track deployments of solutions.
- Technology Expertise: This deal is bringing cutting-edge expertise in cloud networking and software, which can enable scalable and consumption-based networking solutions.
Expanding Global Connectivity and AI-Driven Networking
Furthermore, the acquisition will expand Lumen’s reach into cloud-to-cloud and data center connectivity. It is a move towards higher-growth enterprise network markets. Moreover, the carrier-independent approach of Alkira will allow for global expansion without any significant investment in infrastructure. The integrated platform will be able to integrate services from clouds, data centers, and third-party platforms. Enterprises will be able to manage their networks using a single console. The deal enhances the capability of Lumen in AI-based networking solutions.
“We built Alkira on a single conviction: enterprise networking had to be reinvented for the cloud and AI era programmable, on-demand, consumed not built,” said Amir Khan, CEO of Alkira. “By joining Lumen, we will pair our cloud-native orchestration with one of the world’s most expansive fiber networks and a proven commercial engine, setting a new standard for how enterprises build and run networks in a multi-cloud and AI world.”
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News Source: Businesswire.com
