CenturyLink (Lumen Technologies) vs SoftBank
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.
SoftBank Corp. (TYO: 9434), Japan's third-largest carrier with 27M+ subscribers and ~$55B revenue; runs PayPay, Japan's leading mobile payment platform, and expands into IoT and AI services.
About
SoftBank Corp. is Japan's third-largest mobile carrier and a subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp., headquartered in Tokyo. The company serves over 27 million mobile subscribers in Japan and reported approximately $55 billion in revenue in fiscal 2025, growing at roughly 7% annually. SoftBank Corp. is distinct from SoftBank Group, the global technology investment conglomerate that manages the Vision Fund.\n\nBeyond mobile connectivity, SoftBank Corp. operates PayPay, Japan's dominant QR-code payments platform, and has expanded aggressively into IoT, AI infrastructure, and enterprise cloud services. The company has also invested in building AI data centers in Japan in partnership with NVIDIA, positioning itself as a key AI computing provider for Japanese enterprises and government.\n\nSoftBank Corp. is a leading 5G operator in Japan and was among the first to commercially deploy standalone 5G architecture. The company is leveraging its network assets for smart-city and connected-vehicle projects, and its subsidiary Yahoo Japan (Z Holdings) gives it a substantial presence in e-commerce, digital media, and advertising.
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