Lumen review & pricing
Our verdict
A breadth-of-portfolio national carrier: nearly any connectivity product a large organization needs, nearly anywhere in the US. Excels at multi-site enterprise deals and network transformation; the buying experience and account management vary by region, so partner-led deals often go smoother.
Overview
Lumen (formerly CenturyLink) is a national facilities-based carrier with a huge fiber network, full connectivity portfolio (DIA, wavelength, MPLS, broadband) and edge/cloud services for enterprise and public sector.
Best for
- National multi-site enterprises standardizing one carrier
- Organizations replacing legacy MPLS with SD-WAN + broadband mixes
- Public sector and compliance-heavy industries
Pros & cons
What we like
- National fiber footprint with deep metro reach
- [object Object]
- Strong security portfolio (SASE, DDoS, SOC via partners)
- Enterprise SLAs and global IP network
What to watch
- Legacy-century processes; support quality varies
- Pricing opaque, negotiation-heavy
- SMB experience weaker than enterprise
Key facts
| Starting price | custom (quote-based) |
|---|---|
| Pricing model | Quote-based contracts; volume negotiated per deal |
| Best segments | Mid-market, Enterprise, Public sector |
| Founded | 1968 (as CenturyLink; Lumen brand 2020) |
| Headquarters | Monroe, Louisiana |
| Website | www.lumen.com |
Feature snapshot
| Dedicated Internet Access | ✓ Included |
|---|---|
| Wavelengths & dark fiber | ✓ Included |
| MPLS / VPN networking | ✓ Included |
| Managed SD-WAN & SASE | add-on |
| Adaptive networking (on-demand bandwidth) | add-on |
Ranked in
Best SD-WAN Providers · Best Business Internet Providers · Best Fiber Internet Providers · Best VoIP for Manufacturing
Related providers
This review is editorial and independent. Pricing references published list rates as of September 2026 and changes frequently — always verify with a current quote. Vendor names are trademarks of their respective owners; The VoIP Advisors is an independent advisory firm and is not affiliated with Lumen.