Lumen Technologies Completes Acquisition of Alkira
The deal integrates a cloud-native Network-as-a-Service control plane to accelerate Lumen's programmable networking capabilities for AI workloads.
Lumen Technologies, Inc. (LUMN) completed its acquisition of Alkira. The transaction integrates Alkira's cloud-native Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) control plane with Lumen's physical infrastructure and programmable network to create a single digital platform.
The acquisition is intended to extend Lumen's digital capabilities, allowing enterprises to connect clouds, sites, partners, and AI workloads with greater speed and ease. The move is part of a disciplined and opportunistic capital allocation strategy designed to support revenue growth.
“Lumen is putting innovation back where it belongs - inside the network itself,” said Lumen CEO Kate Johnson. Johnson previously noted that the acquisition accelerates the company's digital platform strategy by providing the programmable capabilities necessary to support AI workloads.
The acquisition follows a broader strategic pivot by Lumen to focus on large enterprises, global hyperscalers, and public sector organizations. This transformation includes the development of a high-capacity, low-latency fiber network and a connected ecosystem of technology partners to support the AI economy.
This move follows other significant portfolio adjustments, including a $5.75 billion cash sale of Lumen's Mass Markets fiber-to-the-home business to AT&T. That divestiture was intended to reduce debt and increase financial flexibility to fund investments in network architecture innovation and its differentiated digital platform.