Lumen to Provide Indo-Pacific Command With Network Services Under $1.5B DISA Contract; Zain Ahmed Quoted

Lumen Technologies will supply necessary network transport and communication services to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command under a potential 10-year, $1.5 billion contract from the Defense Information Systems Agency.

The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract covers the provision of high-capacity, end-to-end services in support of the Defense Information Systems Network, the telecommunications and tech company said Tuesday.

“We’re delivering the always-on network infrastructure so the U.S. Department of Defense can focus on its mission to enhance the stability of the Asia Pacific region, promote security cooperation with our allies and partners, respond to emerging situations, deter aggression and if necessary, fight to win,” said Zain Ahmed, senior vice president of public sector at Lumen.

Ahmed also emphasized Lumen’s pride in assisting the INDOPACOM in advancing its mission of protecting and defending U.S. territory, people and national interests.

Services provided under the contract include ethernet, internet and wavelengths needed by the DOD in reaching U.S. national security goals across the Asia Pacific region, which encompasses 36 nations including Alaska and Hawaii.

Lumen’s network services work to support the secure transportation of data, images, video and voice information, as well as to assist the command with its undertaking of unifying Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps forces throughout the region.

The company sees the contract as a venue for utilizing its adaptive networking, edge cloud connected security and collaboration services in its support of military and government agencies.

This contract follows Lumen’s reception of a potential 11-year, $137 million task order to provide the U.S. Customs and Border Protection with communications, internet connectivity and network services in support of the agency’s operations at airports, borders, ports of entry and other facilities.

Adding to Lumen’s involvement in supporting military and government agencies, the company is currently working with the DOD under a potential seven-year, $196.5 million contract granted in September 2021. It tasks Lumen with the operation and maintenance of dark fiber infrastructure throughout the continental U.S. for the department.