How Lumen® NaaS became Atlantic Packaging’s “easy button” for sustainable networking
Atlantic Packaging’s legacy of bold leadership began in 1946, when journalist W. Horace Carter founded a newspaper in Tabor City, North Carolina. His Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial crusade against hate and injustice set a lasting standard for moral integrity.
“Atlantic was built on bravery in the face of evil,” said Robbie Walker, Network Infrastructure Manager at Atlantic Packaging. “While the newspaper still runs, our work has evolved—from optimizing stretch film to solving e-commerce challenges and repurposing technology in new ways.”
Today, Wes Carter, president and grandson of the founder, channels that founding ethos into a new mission: eliminating plastic waste from oceans, lakes and rivers through sustainable packaging solutions and industry innovation.
A high-profile sustainability summit calls for urgent network demands
In early 2025, Atlantic Packaging exposed a critical infrastructure vulnerability while preparing to host a high-profile sustainability summit. With VIPs confirmed and extensive media coverage expected, the company needed to rapidly modernize its legacy network to support the event’s elevated visibility. High-speed connectivity, secure access and scalable bandwidth were essential to manage unpredictable traffic and deliver a seamless experience.
“We found out there were quite a few VIPs attending this year,” recalled Walker. “Once we realized the scale had changed, we contacted our carriers to see if we could improve the speed to be on the safe side.”
Previously, network upgrades involved lengthy and complicated processes. This time, Atlantic Packaging needed a solution that could be deployed instantly, scale dynamically and adapt to last-minute changes. The urgency was compounded by the need for robust cybersecurity to protect against potential attacks targeting such a high-profile, publicly visible event.
Lumen® Network-as-a-Service: The “easy button” for enterprise networking
To meet urgent network demands for the summit, Atlantic Packaging turned to Lumen Network-as-a-Service (NaaS)—a flexible, scalable networking solution that delivered speed, security and reliability on demand. The network was live the night before the event, delivering connectivity ahead of Atlantic Packaging’s own equipment.
Lumen delivered key features that unlocked Atlantic Packaging’s digital potential, including:
- 3g bandwidth deployed in under 48 hours
- Instant DDoS protection for high-profile security needs
- Point-and-click simplicity for rapid deployment
- Scalable architecture for future growth
Using the intuitive NaaS portal, Atlantic instantly configured bandwidth, provisioned networks and activated DDoS protection—all with a single click.
“Lumen came to us with Network-as-a-Service (NaaS), walked us through it, and it was fantastic,” says Walker. “Flexibility is core to our culture, and NaaS delivered exactly that.”
The ability to activate DDoS protection instantly was critical, allowing Atlantic Packaging to secure their network immediately without delays or extra procurement.
“With one click, we had instant connectivity plus DDoS protection, which enabled critical security measures needed to protect the high-profile guests at the event,” said Walker. “It’s truly the ‘easy button’ way to do networking.”
From proof of concept to nationwide rollout
What began as a high-stakes deployment quickly scaled into a nationwide digital transformation, reshaping how Atlantic Packaging connects, operates and innovates.
“NaaS has changed the way we do business and how we think about our business,” said Walker.
Atlantic Packaging quickly expanded NaaS to 14 locations, with plans to scale to over 30 sites across the U.S. The real ROI came from time savings and operational efficiency. Deployment cycles shrank from weeks to hours, and operational overhead was significantly reduced.
“Time is the one thing you can’t buy,” Walker explained. “NaaS gives us time back by reducing management overhead.”
Now a cornerstone of Atlantic Packaging’s strategy, Lumen NaaS provides rapid scaling, fast response and bold innovation—without infrastructure bottlenecks.
“NaaS mirrors our approach to problem solving: innovation,” Walker said. “It’s a game changer—and we plan to use it everywhere.”
Scaling sustainable packaging with smart technology
Atlantic Packaging is accelerating innovation across their network with Lumen NaaS, connecting manufacturing locations in Tabor City and Dallas to their flagship Packaging Solution Center in Charlotte, North Carolina.
At the heart of this transformation, the Packaging Solution Center serves as a hub for industry advancements in smart packaging technology and consultancy. “Our Charlotte location has become a global showcase for testing, development and innovation,” said Walker.
Atlantic Packaging’s commitment to sustainability is equally forward-thinking. They are the first North American packaging firm to set a net-zero science-based target through the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and earn an A score from the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), reinforcing their dedication to measurable climate action.
From its beginnings as a small-town newspaper, Atlantic Packaging has evolved into North America’s largest privately held sustainable packaging company, leading efforts to reduce plastic pollution and reshape the industry.
“Just like his grandfather, Wes and his father Rusty see a problem and they’re leading the solution,” said Walker.
Powered by Lumen, Atlantic Packaging is turning innovation into impact—advancing a better future through bold leadership and smart technology.
To learn more about Atlantic Packaging’s transformation, read the full customer success story.
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