Lumen Will Link Amazon Data Centers in Latest AI Fiber Deal

Lumen Technologies has agreed to provide connectivity between some of Amazon.com.’s cloud-computing data centers. 

The telecommunications firm will build links between Amazon Web Services’ main data centers and smaller outposts near big cities, the two companies said Wednesday in a statement.

Lumen, which operates more than 263,000 route miles (423,000 km) of fiber-optic cable, will also adopt some AWS technologies.

Financial terms of the deal, which the companies say will help AWS customers run artificial intelligence applications, weren’t disclosed.

The pact is part of Lumen’s push to capitalize on the booming demand for AI and offset declining sales in the company’s legacy businesses, which include providing voice, broadband, and other services to businesses and residential customers. The company recently announced similar deals with Meta Platforms and Microsoft Corporation.

“These technology companies are recognizing that the network of yesterday doesn’t serve what they need to do in the AI economy,” Lumen Chief Executive Officer Kate Johnson said in an interview with Bloomberg TV.

“These networks aren’t big enough, they’re not fast enough, they’re not secure enough, and Lumen is fixing all of that.”

Lumen, based in Monroe, Louisiana, in August said it had secured $5 billion in new business related to AI boom and was in “active discussions with customers” to secure an addition $7 billion in sales.