Lumen Technologies has agreed to acquire cloud networking startup Alkira in an all cash transaction valued at $475 million, as the telecommunications company moves to expand its cloud networking and artificial intelligence infrastructure capabilities. The acquisition, announced on May 5, combines Lumen’s fiber network operations with Alkira’s cloud native networking software designed for enterprise connectivity across hybrid and multi cloud environments.
Alkira was founded in 2018 by Pakistani brothers Amir Khan and Atif Khan, who are also known for previously building Viptela, a software defined wide area networking company later acquired by Cisco for $610 million. Amir Khan, who spent part of his early life in Lahore before moving to the United States in 1984, earned a master’s degree in computer engineering from the University of Colorado Boulder and has remained associated with cloud networking and enterprise infrastructure innovation for more than a decade.
According to Lumen, the acquisition is intended to strengthen its digital networking platform by adding cloud to cloud connectivity capabilities that support enterprise demand in the artificial intelligence era. Company executives stated that Alkira’s software will help extend Lumen’s network reach beyond North America through integration with global partner networks. The company also estimated that the transaction could expand its total addressable market to nearly $70 billion while reducing future capital expenditure requirements by an estimated $100 million to $200 million annually after the acquisition is completed.
The transaction is expected to close during the third quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Alkira’s platform enables businesses to design, deploy, and manage networking systems across multiple cloud providers through a centralized software based control layer. The acquisition also adds to the growing list of technology ventures founded by entrepreneurs of Pakistani origin that have gained visibility in global enterprise technology and cloud infrastructure markets.
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