Lumen Selects Ciena Optical Tech to Support AI Workloads
Lumen Technologies (NYSE:LUMN) has selected Ciena (NYSE:CIEN) as its preferred optical vendor to enhance its network infrastructure for AI workloads. The partnership focuses on implementing Ciena's WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) technology, featuring the industry's first 1.6 Tb/s coherent transceiver powered by 3nm silicon.
The implementation will deliver significant benefits, including a 50% reduction in space and power per bit. Lumen will also utilize Ciena's Navigator Control Suite (NCS) to automate the management of fiber assets, strengthening its capability to provide scalable connectivity services to major cloud and data center providers.
Lumen Technologies (NYSE:LUMN) ha selezionato Ciena (NYSE:CIEN) come fornitore ottico preferito per migliorare la propria infrastruttura di rete per i carichi di lavoro di intelligenza artificiale. La partnership si concentra sull'implementazione della tecnologia WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) di Ciena, che presenta il primo trasmettitore coerente da 1,6 Tb/s del settore, alimentato da silicio a 3 nm.
L'implementazione porterà vantaggi significativi, tra cui una riduzione del 50% dello spazio e della potenza per bit. Lumen utilizzerà anche il Navigator Control Suite (NCS) di Ciena per automatizzare la gestione delle risorse in fibra, rafforzando la propria capacità di fornire servizi di connettività scalabili ai principali fornitori di cloud e centri dati.
Lumen Technologies (NYSE:LUMN) ha seleccionado a Ciena (NYSE:CIEN) como su proveedor óptico preferido para mejorar su infraestructura de red para cargas de trabajo de inteligencia artificial. La asociación se centra en implementar la tecnología WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) de Ciena, que presenta el primer transceptor coherente de 1,6 Tb/s del sector, impulsado por silicio de 3 nm.
La implementación ofrecerá beneficios significativos, incluyendo una reducción del 50% en espacio y energía por bit. Lumen también utilizará el Navigator Control Suite (NCS) de Ciena para automatizar la gestión de activos de fibra, fortaleciendo su capacidad para proporcionar servicios de conectividad escalables a los principales proveedores de nube y centros de datos.
루멘 테크놀로지스 (NYSE:LUMN)는 AI 작업 부하를 위한 네트워크 인프라를 강화하기 위해 시아나 (NYSE:CIEN)를 선호하는 광학 공급업체로 선택했습니다. 이 파트너십은 3nm 실리콘으로 구동되는 업계 최초의 1.6 Tb/s 코히어런트 트랜시버를 특징으로 하는 WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) 기술의 구현에 중점을 두고 있습니다.
이 구현은 비트당 공간과 전력 50% 감소를 포함한 상당한 이점을 제공할 것입니다. 루멘은 또한 시아나의 Navigator Control Suite (NCS)를 활용하여 섬유 자산 관리 자동화를 통해 주요 클라우드 및 데이터 센터 제공업체에 확장 가능한 연결 서비스를 제공할 수 있는 능력을 강화할 것입니다.
Lumen Technologies (NYSE:LUMN) a sélectionné Ciena (NYSE:CIEN) comme fournisseur optique privilégié pour améliorer son infrastructure réseau pour les charges de travail d'IA. Ce partenariat se concentre sur la mise en œuvre de la technologie WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) de Ciena, qui propose le premier émetteur-récepteur cohérent de l'industrie à 1,6 Tb/s, alimenté par du silicium de 3 nm.
La mise en œuvre apportera des avantages significatifs, notamment une réduction de 50% de l'espace et de l'énergie par bit. Lumen utilisera également la Navigator Control Suite (NCS) de Ciena pour automatiser la gestion des actifs en fibre, renforçant ainsi sa capacité à fournir des services de connectivité évolutifs aux principaux fournisseurs de cloud et de centres de données.
Lumen Technologies (NYSE:LUMN) hat Ciena (NYSE:CIEN) als bevorzugten optischen Anbieter ausgewählt, um seine Netzwerk-Infrastruktur für KI-Arbeitslasten zu verbessern. Die Partnerschaft konzentriert sich auf die Implementierung von Cienas WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) Technologie, die den ersten koherenten Transceiver der Branche mit 1,6 Tb/s bietet, betrieben von 3nm Silizium.
Die Implementierung wird erhebliche Vorteile bringen, einschließlich einer Reduzierung des Platz- und Energiebedarfs um 50% pro Bit. Lumen wird auch Cienas Navigator Control Suite (NCS) nutzen, um das Management von Glasfaserressourcen zu automatisieren und seine Fähigkeit zu stärken, skalierbare Konnektivitätsdienste für große Cloud- und Rechenzentrumsanbieter bereitzustellen.
- Selected as preferred optical vendor for major network expansion
- Implementation of industry-first 1.6 Tb/s coherent transceiver
- Technology enables 50% reduction in space and power consumption
- None.
Insights
Lumen's selection of Ciena as its preferred optical vendor for AI-driven network expansion represents a significant commercial win for Ciena in the rapidly growing AI infrastructure market. This partnership validates Ciena's technological leadership in high-capacity optical networking at a time when network operators are scrambling to support exponential growth in AI workloads.
The centerpiece of this deal is Ciena's WaveLogic 6 Extreme technology, which delivers industry-leading 1.6 Tb/s transmission capacity while reducing space and power requirements by 50% compared to previous generations. These efficiency gains are particularly critical as data center operators face increasing power constraints and sustainability pressures. The 3nm silicon that powers WL6e represents cutting-edge optical innovation that few competitors can currently match.
For investors, this partnership carries several important implications:
- The deal positions Ciena to capture a larger share of AI-driven network spending, potentially accelerating the company's revenue growth trajectory after several quarters of more modest expansion
- Optical transport systems typically carry higher margins than other networking segments, potentially supporting Ciena's profitability as deployments scale
- The selection by Lumen, which describes its network as "the backbone for the AI economy," strengthens Ciena's competitive positioning against rivals like Nokia, Infinera, and Cisco in the optical space
- The addition of Ciena's Navigator Control Suite for automated fiber management indicates this is a comprehensive, strategic partnership rather than a one-off equipment purchase
While financial terms weren't disclosed, the magnitude of Lumen's described network expansion ("one of the largest internet expansions ever seen") suggests this could represent a material revenue opportunity for Ciena over multiple quarters or years. Investors should note that large network deployments typically have extended implementation timelines, meaning revenue recognition will likely be gradual rather than immediate.
This partnership reinforces the investment thesis that Ciena is well-positioned as a "picks and shovels" play on AI infrastructure growth. As AI adoption drives unprecedented demand for network capacity between data centers, cloud providers, and end users, optical networking specialists with leading technology stand to benefit substantially from the resulting capital expenditure wave.
Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 technology significantly increases network capacity, performance and speed
“AI is reshaping industries, and the network is the enabler of this transformation. To meet growing demand, Lumen is executing one of the largest internet expansions ever seen. Ciena will play a key role in helping us build the backbone for the AI economy, giving our customers across the globe the capacity, programmability and capability they need to make the most of the AI era,” Kye Prigg, Executive Vice President, Enterprise Operations, Lumen Technologies.
As Lumen’s preferred optical vendor, Ciena plays a key role positioning Lumen to meet AI demand. Lumen will utilize Ciena’s WaveLogic 6 Extreme (WL6e) – the industry’s first high-bandwidth 1.6 Tb/s coherent transceiver powered by innovative 3nm silicon in its network to drive significant economic benefits for operators, including a
“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. Now more than ever, we need robust, dynamic and scalable networks to cater to growth that was previously unfathomable but is now simply the standard. Lumen is a network that is continually pushing the limits, and its customers across the world will be perfectly positioned to benefit,” said Dino DiPerna, Senior Vice President, Global Research and Development, Ciena.
About Lumen Technologies
Lumen is unleashing the world's digital potential. We ignite business growth by connecting people, data, and applications – quickly, securely, and effortlessly. As the trusted network for AI, Lumen uses the scale of our network to help companies realize AI's full potential. From metro connectivity to long-haul data transport to our edge cloud, security, managed service, and digital platform capabilities, we meet our customers' needs today and as they build for tomorrow. For news and insights visit news.lumen.com, LinkedIn: /lumentechnologies, X: @lumentechco, Facebook: /lumentechnologies, Instagram: @lumentechnologies, and YouTube: /lumentechnologies.
About Ciena
Ciena (NYSE: CIEN) is a global leader in networking systems, services, and software. We build the most adaptive networks in the industry, enabling customers to anticipate and meet ever-increasing digital demands. For three-plus decades, Ciena has brought our humanity to our relentless pursuit of innovation. Prioritizing collaborative relationships with our customers, partners, and communities, we create flexible, open, and sustainable networks that better serve all users—today and into the future. For updates on Ciena, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, the Ciena Insights blog, or visit www.ciena.com.
Note to Ciena Investors
You are encouraged to review the Investors section of our website, where we routinely post press releases, SEC filings, recent news, financial results, and other announcements. From time to time we exclusively post material information to this website along with other disclosure channels that we use. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements that are based on our current expectations, forecasts, information, and assumptions. These statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those stated or implied, because of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in our most recent annual and quarterly reports filed with the SEC. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our expectations, beliefs, intentions or strategies and can be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," "will," and "would" or similar words. Ciena assumes no obligation to update the information included in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250225731905/en/
Press Contacts:
Jamie Moody
Ciena Corporation
+1 (410) 694-5761
pr@ciena.com
Courtney Morton
Lumen Technologies
801-238-0228
courtney.morton@lumen.com
Investor Contact:
Gregg Lampf
Ciena Corporation
+1 (410) 694-5700
ir@ciena.com
Source: Ciena Corporation
FAQ
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