Lumen Technologies and Flexential Expand On-Demand Network Services Through Strategic Partnership
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 businesses co-located in Flexential data centers to gain instant access to software-defined network services.
Meeting Modern Connectivity Demands
The partnership is designed to meet the growing enterprise need for flexible, secure, and scalable connectivity solutions. As technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and edge solutions continue to drive data growth and complexity, this integrated offering allows Flexential customers to easily purchase and manage Lumen’s network services through a user-friendly, cloud-like interface. The solution supports fast deployment and simplified management across more than 42 FlexAnywhere locations.
“Lumen and Flexential are bringing Network-as-a-Service capabilities to businesses looking for the flexibility, security, and agility that on-demand connections provide,” said Dave Ward, Chief Technology and Product Officer at Lumen. “Lumen NaaS is transforming the way businesses manage connectivity, offering a quick and easy network buying experience to solve business challenges and meet rising data demands driven by AI.”
Expanded Service Access and Low-Latency Delivery
Through this integration, customers can access a suite of services—including Internet On-Demand, Ethernet On-Demand, DDoS Essentials, and Lumen Defender—via Lumen’s partner ecosystem. Physical NaaS nodes will be deployed in Flexential’s data centers located in Hillsboro, Oregon; Aurora, Colorado; and Plano, Texas. These locations ensure low-latency access and localized service delivery.
FlexAnywhere: Enabling Open, Collaborative Networks
Ryan Mallory, Chief Operating Officer at Flexential, emphasized the value of the collaboration. “Today’s enterprise customers are seeking platforms that foster collaboration and innovation with their partners. By working with Lumen, we’re expanding our Cloud Fabric’s FlexAnywhere platform with more carrier destinations and building an open environment that promotes customer freedom and choice.”
The partnership reflects a broader industry trend toward fabric-based network infrastructure and software-defined networking (SDN). According to Gartner, by 2026, 30% of enterprises are expected to automate more than half of their network operations—up from under 10% in mid-2023. Lumen and Flexential aim to support this shift with an API-driven, user-centric approach that consolidates multiple services into a single access point.
Advancing Flexential’s Interconnection Strategy
This collaboration also aligns with Flexential’s ongoing efforts to enhance its interconnection ecosystem. It follows recent initiatives such as the launch of Flexential Fabric and the introduction of a bilateral peering gateway with Wasabi Technologies—an industry first. These developments underscore Flexential’s commitment to delivering high-performance, automated, and scalable connectivity solutions tailored to the evolving needs of the digital economy.
