Microsoft and Lumen expand partnership to sell networking for Azure AI
Lumen plans to make its full cloud networking portfolio available on Azure, with the companies coordinating sales to large businesses.
Lumen Technologies and Microsoft said they will collaborate on selling network services to large businesses shifting AI workloads to Azure. The companies disclosed neither financial figures nor a schedule for the expanded partnership.
The companies want businesses to coordinate network planning with their migration to Azure. They said AI draws on data spread across public clouds, private data centers and offices, while connections between those locations are often patchy.
Lumen, a US fiber network operator, intends to offer its entire cloud networking portfolio on Azure. Sales staff from both companies will pursue opportunities combining network services, cloud migration and AI.
Alkira is already available through Microsoft’s business software marketplace. Lumen acquired the product, which provides centralized management of connections between clouds and offices, for US$475 million earlier in the year.
The partners also intend to examine how their networks might integrate with Microsoft’s AI-agent management tools. Their existing relationship includes a 2024 agreement under which Lumen provides fiber connections linking Microsoft data centers.
