Lumen Technologies Highlights Fiber Upgrade Potential in Rural Markets

In a recent statement, Lumen Technologies, a leading telecommunications company, underscored the significant potential for upgrading its extensive copper customer base to high-speed fiber, particularly in rural areas. Lumen currently services 18 million copper customers, with a considerable number located in rural markets.

Maximus Stansbury, speaking on behalf of Lumen, revealed, "We've identified that out of the 18 million, there's a sizable segment in rural areas. However, there are about 8 million homes with potential for upgrade, which is quite reasonable. We're currently at 4 million." This statement was made during a discussion on market dynamics and the company's strategic direction towards enhancing its service offerings.

Lumen has been actively expanding its fiber broadband capabilities, reporting significant growth in the third quarter. "At the end of the third quarter, our penetration of legacy copper broadband was approximately 9%, while our Quantum Fiber penetration reached about 26%," Stansbury added. This growth is supported by the addition of 131,000 new fiber-enabled locations, bringing the total to over four million as of September 30.

The company is on track to meet its annual target of adding 500,000 new fiber builds. Furthermore, Lumen's Quantum Fiber subscriber base saw an increase with 43,000 new customers, marking the best quarter for fiber net additions, pushing the total subscriber count over one million.

Despite the expansion, the average revenue per user (ARPU) for fiber services remained steady at $62, showing a slight year-over-year increase. Stansbury emphasized the attractiveness of the markets where fiber is being deployed, stating, "The markets where fiber is being built are attractive. If you look at the size of our fiber footprint today and the potential fiber footprint, we are the largest asset out there that has yet to be consolidated."

Lumen's focus on fiber upgrades not only aims at improving service quality but also at capturing the untapped potential in rural markets, thereby broadening its market dynamics and ensuring sustainable growth in the telecommunications sector.

For more details on Lumen's financial performance and strategic plans, visit Alayaran.com's Business and Technology sections. Stay updated with the latest in broadband and high-speed transmission systems by subscribing to our newsletters.