Lumen Technologies is a multinational technology company specializing in communications, network services, edge computing and security solutions. The company operates a global IP fiber network that supports data, voice and video delivery for enterprise, government and wholesale customers. Lumen’s portfolio is designed to enable digital transformation by combining high-capacity connectivity with cloud and managed services.
Founded originally as Central Telephone & Utilities in the early 20th century, the company evolved through a series of mergers and rebrandings, becoming CenturyTel and later CenturyLink. In 2020, CenturyLink officially changed its name to Lumen Technologies to reflect its emphasis on “lumen” or light-based networking and the company’s broader focus on next-generation edge computing. A landmark acquisition of Level 3 Communications in 2017 expanded Lumen’s long-haul fiber footprint and international reach.
Lumen’s product offerings encompass a wide range of services, including fiber and Ethernet transport, managed and co-location hosting, cloud connect, unified communications and voice services, as well as network security solutions such as DDoS mitigation and secure access. The company has invested in its edge computing platform to bring compute resources closer to end users, supporting latency-sensitive applications such as IoT, AI and real-time analytics. These capabilities are delivered through a combination of owned infrastructure and strategic partnerships with major cloud providers.
Headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana, Lumen maintains operations across North America, Europe and parts of Latin America and Asia, with a customer base that spans small businesses to Fortune 500 enterprises. Under the leadership of President and Chief Executive Officer Kate Johnson, the company continues to focus on modernizing its network, expanding edge capabilities and driving efficiencies through automation and software-defined networking technologies.