Lumen collaborates with Google Cloud to turn AI-era networks into a simplified cloud experience

Lumen intends to accelerate cloud connectivity with Google Cloud by combining last mile capabilities with Lumen and Google Cloud Interconnect to deliver a managed, SLA‑backed, programmable connection from a customer’s address to Google Cloud in minutes.

Today's enterprises are moving fast. They're scaling new workloads, moving large datasets between cloud regions and pushing traffic closer to the edge. The network underneath must move just as quickly, but for most customers, the last mile remains the sticking point. That final stretch of connectivity from a branch, headquarters or data center to the nearest cloud on-ramp can mean weeks of negotiating with partners, standing up circuits, verifying capacity and integrating APIs. And it all starts over with every capacity change or new site, slowing time-to-value while adding configuration risk and SLA exposure.

We are pleased to share that we are deepening our collaboration with Google Cloud with our intent to launch Google Cloud Interconnect with last mile by Lumen. Delivered through Lumen and Google Cloud Interconnect capabilities, this service will remove the friction of the last mile and give enterprises of every size a simplified “address-to-cloud” experience.

Building on a shared vision

This journey didn’t start today. At Next ’25, Lumen and Google Cloud announced a significant expansion of network infrastructure, enabling 400 Gbps direct fiber connections to deliver the scale required for the AI era. That milestone was about capacity. This recent announcement to develop Google Cloud Interconnect with last mile by Lumen is extending our strategy to enable agility, giving enterprises a consistent, programmable way to reach the cloud platforms that power their most important workloads.

Designed for how enterprise traffic moves

The traffic pattern inside the modern enterprise has flipped. AI training and inference, data replication between regions and distributed application topologies have driven an explosion of east-west traffic (workload-to-workload, region-to-region, cloud-to-cloud) that now exceeds traditional north-south flows. That shift demands a connectivity layer that can be provisioned, scaled and reconfigured at the pace of the business, not one that treats every new site or capacity change as a fresh procurement cycle.

Our planned work with Google Cloud will deliver a simplified discovery experience, a fully managed last mile from Lumen and API-driven orchestration between cloud and network from the customer's address to the virtual private cloud (VPC), engineered for the high-bandwidth, low-latency, any-to-any traffic patterns enterprises rely on.

An address-to-cloud experience, built in

Lumen Cloud Interconnect for Google Cloud will provide a working, SLA-backed connection to Google Cloud in a few simple clicks. Customers will be able to start the experience from Google Cloud, choose the bandwidth and resiliency that fits the workload, and let Lumen and Google manage the orchestration behind the scenes.

At launch, the service is planned to support bandwidth options for evolving workloads, along with resiliency tiers that let customers match SLA to business needs. More details on the customer experience, supported markets and capabilities will follow as we move from announcement to public preview.

"To support the rapid scale of modern AI workloads, the network underneath must be just as agile. By combining Lumen’s last-mile expertise with Google Cloud Interconnect, we are providing customers with seamless, programmable connectivity they need to support their critical applications and growth," said Himanshu Mehra, Director of Product Management for Google Cloud.

The Lumen Network will make this possible

Underneath the planned experience is the Lumen Network: approximately 340,000 route miles, direct fiber access to more than 163,000 on-net buildings and over 2,200 third-party data centers, with a global backbone capacity exceeding 350 Tbps. The 400G-enabled portion of the network now spans more than 100,000 route miles, delivering sub-five-millisecond latency at the edge and reaching up to 97% of U.S. business demand. That reach creates a short and reliable path from the customer's address to Google Cloud.

What's next

This planned collaboration is a milestone for both companies and for our shared customers. It pairs Google Cloud's platform with the scale, programmability and on-net reach of the Lumen Network and will raise the bar for what "easy" means when an enterprise connects to the cloud. This service is targeted to enter public preview in summer 2026.

Learn more about how Lumen Cloud Interconnect for Google Cloud will simplify your journey to the cloud. For now, customers will be able to find us on Google Cloud Marketplace and get connected with a Lumen representative to learn more.

_{This blog contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements contained in this blog that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including statements regarding management’s expectations with respect to our business, strategy and operations as well as statements identified by words such as “estimates,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “plans,” “intends,” “will,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are not promises nor guarantees of future results, are based on our current expectations only and are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including those described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as updated in our other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. Actual results may differ materially from those anticipated by us in these statements due to several factors, including those referenced in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.}