Fiber networks provide the core communications backbone for any data service, whether wired or wireless—indeed, signals between cellular towers are carried over optical-fiber cables. Even the latest 5G services, which promise much faster wireless connectivity, depend on fiber to carry signals over longer distances. Fiber “is a very complementary technology to the 5G offerings that are out there,” says Draper.

Draper says the core of Lumen’s strategy is automating its ability to deliver “network as a service.” Previously, jobs like designing optical networks for customers could take weeks or months to accomplish, he says. With automation, the process could be whittled down to hours.

The ability to standardize and automate these functions through digital workflows is where ServiceNow (publisher of Workflow), comes into play, Draper says. ServiceNow’s digital platform “gives us the ability to simplify and streamline the consumption of network access.”

Lumen has created other new partnerships, including one with SAP, through which the Lumen cloud management platform will host and manage SAP HANA infrastructure for businesses. The company also inked a deal to bring Microsoft Azure features onto the Lumen platform. Additionally, VMware and Lumen have an agreement for Lumen to deliver edge services using integrated VMware technologies to help enterprises expand across data center, cloud and edge, moving business applications that require low latency and efficient localization closer to digital interactions.

In collaboration with T-Mobile, Lumen aims to help enterprises build and manage applications connected via T-Mobile’s 5G network and over the Lumen edge computing platform.