Lumen Technologies is venturing into two new areas of development: collaborating with Microsoft and providing ultra-fast quantum fiber, all to meet customer demands.

Regarding the Microsoft collaboration, Lumen is launching a key building block in the company’s partnering strategy. Lumen wants to make it more possible for customers to get better customer experiences, improved quality of products and services, and increased productivity.

Lumen’s Kate Johnson

Kate Johnson, president and CEO at Lumen, said partners are who make this possible.

“Lumen is revamping our alliance partner ecosystem with companies like Microsoft so we can be even more consultative in our approach — we can really help customers choose the products that will drive the best business outcomes,” she said.

When it comes to Microsoft’s Operator Connect, it provides clients with a quick and simple way to deploy calling in Microsoft Teams with no on-premises equipment, and with easy customization capabilities. Lumen officials said this is a solid win for customers, who will be able to use their existing investment in Teams without the need for on-premises solutions.

A Growth Engine for Lumen Technologies

Lumen said Microsoft is an early entrant to its Growth Operating System. This is a new process to deeply understand customer needs in the face of the complexity of cloud and connectivity disruptors.

Microsoft’s Rick Wagner

Rick Wagner, president, Microsoft Federal, said the company is thrilled to be partnering with Lumen.

“Their scale of network and metro edge compute infrastructure is uniquely differentiated for low latency experiences. With our combined strengths, Microsoft and Lumen will enable customers to access advanced immersive capabilities for improved collaboration, productivity, and innovation,” Wagner said. “This effort is a great example of how Microsoft works with industry leaders to deliver results for customers at scale.”

Lumen will use insights to help customers take advantage of the transformative capabilities coming from innovations such as the metaverse and AI. Lumen also expects to see an acceleration of sales leads and closures, and increased product expansion, from the collaboration.

In addition, Operator CSP is a Microsoft program that builds deeper relationships with key program participants to accelerate sales and adoption of Microsoft 365 and Teams Phone. Participating in Operator CSP aligns with Lumen’s “customer obsession” and leverages its proprietary gift of an enviable broad account base, Lumen officials said. Through the program, Lumen can deliver a more wholistic buying journey for mid-market customers.

Above: Lumen’s Sara Seegers (right) with Channel Futures’ Kelly Teal at the 2023 Channel Partners Conference & Expo.

‘Ultra-Fast’ Quantum Fiber Internet

Quantum Fiber, a Lumen brand, is internet that never sleeps. Ultra-fast broadband connectivity built for the always-online home and small business uses the power of Lumen’s global fiber network to deliver gigabit and multi-gigabit speed to thousands of homes and businesses across 16 states.

By combining an incredibly fast fiber internet product with a frictionless, 100% digital platform, Quantum Fiber internet is meeting customer demands by delivering robust connectivity with a unique in-home experience including whole home Wi-Fi and simplified installation.

Maxine Moreau, Lumen president of mass markets, said the U.S. culture is one where people are impatient when it comes to internet performance.

Lumen’s Maxine Moreau

“With Quantum Fiber, our customers and small businesses don’t have to slow down. We live in a digital society and connecting people is important work,” Moreau said. “With each new city, thousands more people gain access to our reliable internet. It’s an investment with rippling benefits for not only families and businesses, but also our larger work to support digital inclusion.”

Quantum Fiber internet is on track to connect more than 500,000 homes and small businesses this year, Lumen officials said.

“We’re excited to expand our fiber footprint with gig and multi-gig internet into these markets. Families and businesses are telling us that Quantum Fiber internet gives them what they need to thrive in our super-connected world and be ready for what lies ahead,” Moreau said.