CenturyLink (Lumen Technologies) vs BT Group
Side-by-side comparison of AI visibility scores, market position, and capabilities
NYSE-listed enterprise fiber network and connectivity provider post-CenturyLink rebrand; divested consumer broadband to refocus on enterprise digital services competing with AT&T Business.
About
CenturyLink, now rebranded as Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN), is a telecommunications and technology company providing enterprise fiber networking, cloud connectivity, security services, and legacy broadband internet — primarily focused on enterprise and mid-market business customers after strategic divestitures of its consumer broadband and Latin American businesses. Lumen Technologies operates one of the largest fiber networks in North America and competes for enterprise digital transformation infrastructure contracts with AT&T Business, Verizon Business, and cloud hyperscalers.\n\nLumen's enterprise offerings center on high-bandwidth private network connectivity (MPLS and SD-WAN), dedicated internet access via fiber, cybersecurity services (DDoS protection, managed security), and co-location data center services. The company went through significant portfolio transformation in 2021-2022, selling its Latin American operations to Stonepeak for $2.7 billion and its legacy ILEC (incumbent local exchange carrier) consumer broadband business in 20 states to Apollo Global Management for $7.5 billion — refocusing on enterprise digital services from its remaining fiber infrastructure.\n\nIn 2025, Lumen Technologies faces a challenging financial position with substantial debt load and revenue decline as legacy copper-based voice and data services erode faster than enterprise fiber growth can offset. The company has engaged in debt restructuring discussions and cost reduction programs to stabilize the business. The strategic question for Lumen is whether its fiber network infrastructure has sufficient competitive value in an enterprise market where cloud connectivity increasingly flows through hyperscaler direct connections rather than telco-managed networks. The 2025 strategy focuses on winning enterprise fiber connectivity and security contracts, managing the legacy service revenue decline, and completing financial restructuring to reduce interest burden.
BT Group (LON: BT.A), UK's largest fixed and mobile telecom with ~$26B trailing revenue; rolling out fiber to 25M premises and 5G via the EE brand through its Openreach network division.
About
BT Group plc is the United Kingdom's largest fixed and mobile telecommunications company, headquartered in London. The company provides broadband, mobile, TV, and enterprise networking services through its consumer brand EE and its business-focused BT Business and Openreach divisions. As of September 2025, BT Group reported a trailing 12-month revenue of approximately $26.2 billion.\n\nOpenreach, a legally separated wholesale infrastructure division within BT Group, is responsible for building and maintaining the national broadband network and is delivering fiber broadband to 25 million UK premises by 2026. Openreach sells wholesale access to more than 600 communication providers, making it critical national infrastructure. BT's EE brand is the UK's largest mobile network by subscribers, with nationwide 5G coverage.\n\nCEO Allison Kirkby has driven a renewed focus on cost transformation and infrastructure investment since 2024, helping BT's market capitalization surpass Vodafone's for the first time in 25 years. The company is targeting £3 billion in annual cost savings by FY28 through automation and workforce restructuring, while simultaneously accelerating fiber and 5G deployment to compete against cable operators and challenger ISPs.
AI Visibility Head-to-Head
Key Details
Capabilities & Ecosystem
Capabilities
Integrations
Also Compare
CenturyLink (Lumen Technologies) vs
Track AI Visibility in Real Time
Monitor how your brand performs across ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, Claude, and Grok daily.