Lumen Technologies has selected Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) technology to enhance its network infrastructure and support the growing demand for AI-driven workloads. This partnership strengthens Lumen’s ability to provide scalable and high-capacity connectivity services to major cloud and data center providers.
As Lumen’s preferred optical vendor, Ciena plays a critical role in expanding Lumen’s network capabilities. The integration of Ciena’s WL6e—the industry’s first 1.6 Tbps coherent transceiver powered by 3nm silicon—delivers significant performance benefits, including a 50% reduction in space and power per bit. Additionally, Ciena’s Navigator Control Suite (NCS) will automate the management and control of Lumen’s fiber assets, optimizing network efficiency.
Key highlights of the partnership include:
- 1.6 Tbps Coherent Optical Technology: Lumen deploys Ciena’s WL6e to meet AI-driven bandwidth demand.
- AI-Optimized Network: Strengthened connectivity services for cloud and data center providers.
- Economic and Operational Benefits: Reduces space and power usage by 50% per bit.
- Automated Network Management: Ciena’s NCS enhances network visibility and control.
- Strategic AI Infrastructure Expansion: Supports Lumen’s global AI-driven network transformation.
“We are amid a truly transformative era, one akin to the dawn of the internet itself. And the enabler of this era is not the AI, but the network,” said Dino DiPerna, Senior Vice President, Global Research and Development, Ciena. “Lumen is a network that is continually pushing the limits, and its customers across the world will be perfectly positioned to benefit.”
