Lumen Technologies and Flexential have announced an expansion of their Network-as-a-Service offerings, aiming to provide businesses with more flexible, secure, and agile networking solutions. This collaboration integrates Lumen’s NaaS platform with Flexential’s FlexAnywhere® platform, enabling customers to instantly purchase, utilize, and manage Lumen’s networking services.
Dave Ward, Lumen’s Chief Technology and Product Officer, highlighted the significance of this development, stating, “Lumen and Flexential are bringing Network-as-a-Service capabilities to businesses looking for the flexibility, security, and agility that on-demand connections provide.”
With this integration, organizations across more than 42 Flexential data centers now have access to scalable, on-demand network services. This enhancement facilitates improved connectivity for remote and endpoint locations and offers customized software-defined bandwidth solutions through a streamlined, cloud-like purchasing experience.
Ryan Mallory, Chief Operating Officer at Flexential, emphasized the customer-centric approach of the partnership: “By partnering with Lumen, we’re expanding the FlexAnywhere® platform with additional carrier destinations on our Cloud Fabric. This partnership underscores our commitment to building an open ecosystem that supports customer choice and flexibility.”
Lumen’s NaaS nodes have been strategically deployed in Flexential’s data centers located in Hillsboro, Oregon; Aurora, Colorado; and Plano, Texas. Customers colocated in any Flexential facility can access Lumen’s NaaS through Flexential’s private backbone. The suite of services available includes Internet On-Demand, DDoS Essentials, Lumen Defender, and Ethernet On-Demand.
The expansion of NaaS capabilities comes at a time when enterprises are increasingly seeking dynamic, on-demand connectivity solutions to support their evolving digital infrastructure needs. According to Gartner, “By 2026, 30% of enterprises will automate more than half of their network activities, an increase from under 10% in mid-2023.” This trend underscores the growing importance of interconnection-led and software-defined infrastructure in the data industry.
The integration of Lumen’s NaaS with Flexential’s FlexAnywhere® platform is designed to address these evolving demands. By providing businesses with the tools to manage connectivity dynamically, the partnership aims to enhance operational efficiency and support the increasing reliance on cloud-based applications and services.
In the context of the burgeoning artificial intelligence sector, robust networking infrastructure has become even more critical. As AI applications proliferate, they place considerable stress on data centers and network capabilities, necessitating upgrades to support increased data movement and machine-to-machine interactions. Companies like Lumen are responding to this need by enhancing their network offerings to accommodate the high bandwidth and low latency demands of AI workloads.
Lumen’s strategic focus on NaaS has positioned it to capitalize on the growing demand for flexible networking solutions. The company’s efforts to deliver a cloud-like experience for purchasing and managing network services reflect a broader industry shift toward consumption-based models. This approach aligns with the needs of businesses seeking scalable and responsive connectivity options in an increasingly digital landscape.
Flexential’s commitment to expanding its interconnectivity offerings is evident in this partnership. By integrating with Lumen’s NaaS platform, Flexential enhances its FlexAnywhere® platform, providing customers with a broader range of connectivity options. This move is part of Flexential’s ongoing strategy to build an open, interconnected ecosystem that supports customer choice and flexibility.
