Core Viewpoint - Lumen Technologies, Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Mass Markets fiber-to-the-home business, including Quantum Fiber, to AT&T for $5.75 billion in cash, marking a significant step in Lumen's transformation into a digital enterprise networking company [1] Group 1: Transaction Details - The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions [2] - The sale includes approximately 95% of Quantum Fiber, covering around 4 million fiber-enabled locations and nearly 1 million subscribers as of March 31, 2025, projected to generate over $750 million in annualized revenues [3] Group 2: Financial Implications - Net proceeds from the deal, estimated at approximately $4.2 billion, will be used to retire about $4.8 billion in super priority debt, reducing annual interest expenses by $300 million and lowering the projected 2025 net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio from 4.9 to 3.9 [4] - The deal will also decrease annual capital expenditures related to Mass Markets fiber by about $1 billion, allowing Lumen to reinvest in enterprise offerings and strengthen its balance sheet [4] Group 3: Future Strategy - Lumen plans to continue new fiber buildouts at a similar pace as in 2024 through the end of 2025 while retaining its existing copper network for consumer customers [5] - The company aims to expand its intercity fiber network to 47 million miles by 2028 and focus on growing the Lumen Digital Platform to provide enhanced networking solutions for business customers [6] - Management emphasized that the transaction enhances financial flexibility to innovate enterprise networking in a multi-cloud, AI-first environment, retaining core infrastructure assets for enterprise services [7] Group 4: Market Demand and Partnerships - Increasing demand for Lumen's Private Connectivity Fabric (PCF) solutions is noted, with $8.5 billion in PCF deals secured in 2024, driven by the urgent need for fiber capacity among large companies [8] - Lumen has established partnerships with major tech firms like Microsoft, Amazon, Google Cloud, and Meta Platforms to support AI innovation through enhanced network capabilities [8]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Total reported revenue declined 3.3% to $3,182 million, with business segment revenue down 2.6% to $2,524 million and mass market segment revenue down 5.9% to $658 million [25] - Adjusted EBITDA was $929 million with a 29.2% margin, compared to $977 million in the year-ago quarter [33] - Free cash flow was $354 million, with capital expenditures at $791 million [34] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - North American enterprise channels saw a revenue decline of 1.7%, while North American enterprise grow revenue increased 9.9% year over year, driven by large enterprise and public sector growth [25][30] - Wholesale revenue declined approximately 3.6% year over year, with the Harvest portion contracting by 5.8% [27] - Fiber broadband revenue grew 22.9% year over year, representing 45% of mass markets broadband revenue [32] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Public sector revenue grew 14.7% year over year, although it can be lumpy quarter to quarter [25] - International and other revenue declined 11.3%, primarily driven by VPN declines [28] - The company added 101,000 fiber-enabled homes, bringing the total to approximately 4,300,000 as of March 31 [32] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company focuses on three priorities: driving operational excellence, building the backbone for the AI economy, and cloudifying telecom [5][22] - The construction of $8.5 billion in private connectivity fabric projects is underway, with 57 ILA sites under construction [8][9] - The Lumen Digital platform aims to transform the customer experience and drive operational efficiency through automation and AI [13][15] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in margin expansion and total EBITDA returning to full-year growth in 2026 [24][35] - The company is optimistic about the demand for its services, particularly in the context of AI and digital transformation [56][57] - Management noted that while there may be uncertainty in the market, the investments in fiber and digital services are critical for long-term competitiveness [57] Other Important Information - The company refinanced $2.4 billion in term loans, reducing annual interest expense by approximately $55 million [23] - Management addressed rumors regarding the sale of the consumer fiber business, emphasizing a focus on enterprise connectivity [35] Q&A Session Summary Question: Context on grow revenue increase and sustainability - Management indicated that grow revenue was driven by dark fiber deals and expects trends to continue, although specifics on new versus existing customers were not provided [39][41] Question: Impact of legacy TDM revenue and disconnects - Management acknowledged some activity in disconnects but expressed confidence that it would not negatively impact EBITDA [40][42] Question: Differences in cloud economics versus traditional telecom - Management explained that the Lumen Digital platform enables cloud economics by allowing multiple services on one port, reducing marginal costs [46][48] Question: Public sector revenue trends and potential risks - Management noted strong performance in the public sector and ongoing engagement in large-scale opportunities, despite potential budget pressures [60][70] Question: Pricing strategy for new digital services - Management emphasized that the focus is on total value of ownership rather than discounting prices, highlighting the inherent value of their services [62][64] Question: CapEx spend cadence and public sector risks - Management refrained from providing specific quarterly guidance on CapEx but expressed confidence in annual targets, while remaining optimistic about public sector opportunities [68][70]