Lumen Technologies and Flexential have announced a strategic partnership aimed at expanding their on-demand networking capabilities. This collaboration integrates Lumen’s Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) platform with Flexential’s FlexAnywhere platform, enabling enterprise customers located in Flexential data centers to instantly access software-defined network services.
The partnership addresses the increasing need for flexible, secure, and agile connectivity solutions, driven by the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and edge technologies. With this integration, Flexential clients can now seamlessly purchase and manage Lumen’s network services through a user-friendly, cloud-like interface. This supports faster deployment and easier management of connectivity across more than 42 FlexAnywhere locations nationwide.
Dave Ward, Chief Technology and Product Officer at Lumen, emphasized the importance of agility in today’s enterprise networking environment. “Lumen and Flexential are delivering NaaS capabilities to businesses that demand flexible, secure, and agile connections,” Ward said. “Lumen NaaS is revolutionizing how businesses approach connectivity, offering a streamlined experience that meets the growing demands fueled by AI and other emerging technologies.”
Through the partnership, customers gain access to a range of services including Internet On-Demand, Ethernet On-Demand, DDoS Essentials, and Lumen Defender. These services are available via Lumen’s partner ecosystem, with physical NaaS nodes deployed in Flexential data centers located in Hillsboro, Oregon; Aurora, Colorado; and Plano, Texas. This ensures low-latency access and localized service delivery.
Ryan Mallory, Chief Operating Officer of Flexential, highlighted the strategic value of the collaboration. “Today’s enterprises are looking for platforms that enable innovation and collaboration,” Mallory said. “By partnering with Lumen, we’re enhancing our FlexAnywhere platform with broader carrier access and creating an open, flexible environment that empowers customer choice.”
This joint effort reflects a broader industry shift toward software-defined networking and fabric-based infrastructure. According to Gartner, by 2026, 30% of enterprises are expected to automate more than half of their network operations, a significant increase from less than 10% in mid-2023. Lumen and Flexential are aligning their offerings to support this trend, providing API-driven solutions that simplify access to multiple services through a single interface.
The partnership also aligns with Flexential’s long-term strategy to grow its interconnection ecosystem. It builds on recent initiatives such as the launch of Flexential Fabric and the company’s bilateral peering gateway developed with Wasabi Technologies. Together, these efforts underscore Flexential’s commitment to delivering high-performance, scalable, and automated connectivity solutions for the evolving digital landscape.
