Lumen Technologies has announced three initiatives focused on the evolving network requirements of artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and cybersecurity.

The initiatives include a collaboration with Emerald AI to explore energy-aware routing for AI workloads, research funding at The Ohio State University to investigate the potential use of fiber infrastructure for quantum connectivity, and plans to introduce post-quantum cryptography (PQC) capabilities through its Fortinet-based Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solution.

The projects reflect growing industry interest in how network infrastructure may need to evolve to support distributed computing, changing energy requirements, and emerging security considerations.

“We’re innovating our network to help AI computing adapt to available energy, lay the foundation for a connected quantum future, and prepare enterprises for continuous and emerging security threats," said Kate Johnson, CEO of Lumen.

Exploring Energy-Aware Networking for AI Workloads

The growing demand for AI computing is placing additional pressure on data center power availability. Limited electricity capacity, rising energy costs, and infrastructure constraints are prompting organizations to examine alternatives for managing where and when AI workloads are processed.

Lumen is working with Emerald AI to explore how AI computing workloads could be shifted among locations based on electricity availability, cost, network performance, latency, and security requirements.

The initiative combines Emerald AI's energy intelligence platform, Emerald Conductor, with Lumen's programmable fiber network and edge infrastructure. The companies are exploring a pilot that would test the ability to route AI inference requests to locations with available power while maintaining network performance requirements.

The approach is intended to extend energy-aware workload management beyond individual data centers by incorporating network routing decisions into the process.

“The network has traditionally connected computing resources wherever they happen to be. We’re exploring how to turn that equation around, making the network an active part of how and where computing happens,” said Jim Fowler, Lumen Chief Technology and Product Officer.

Emerald AI CEO and founder Dr. Varun Sivaram said, “Power is a critical bottleneck to AI growth, and flexible AI data centers could unlock up to 100 gigawatts of capacity on the existing U.S. grid while being good grid citizens—helping keep electricity affordable and the power system reliable,”

Ohio State Research Examines Fiber-Based Quantum Connectivity

Lumen is also investing in research at Ohio State University to investigate how existing optical fiber infrastructure could support future quantum networking applications.

Connecting geographically distributed quantum computers presents technical challenges that differ from those associated with conventional data transmission. Quantum information cannot be copied or amplified using standard networking methods, creating a need for specialized optical technologies capable of transmitting and distributing quantum signals.

The university's research will examine two quantum areas:

• Long-range networking: Investigating optical technologies that could enable connections between geographically separated quantum systems.
• Distributed sensing: Exploring how quantum technologies could support geophysical monitoring and help identify environmental conditions that may affect network infrastructure and performance.

The research builds on existing federal and state investments in quantum information science and engineering. Its findings are expected to help inform the potential use of deployed fiber infrastructure for future quantum networking applications.

Planned Post-Quantum Security Capabilities for SASE

The third initiative addresses potential cybersecurity risks associated with advances in quantum computing.

Future quantum computers could threaten certain encryption methods currently used to protect enterprise communications and sensitive information. One concern is the possibility of so-called "harvest now, decrypt later" attacks, in which encrypted information is collected today with the intention of decrypting it when more capable quantum computers become available.

To address this emerging risk, Lumen plans to incorporate Fortinet PQC capabilities, available through FortiOS, into its SASE solution.

Lumen uses FortiGate technology as the foundation of its SASE offering. According to the company, initial PQC availability is targeted for November 2026, with general availability planned for January 2027.

The planned capabilities are intended to strengthen enterprise communications against potential future quantum-enabled attacks. Lumen also plans to help organizations assess existing encryption vulnerabilities and prepare for transitions to quantum-resistant security technologies.

Source: Lumen Technologies

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