Lumen Technologies vs Zayo: Which ISP Is Better?

Lumen Technologies and Zayo are two of the most prominent names in enterprise connectivity, each offering a wide array of network services.

Choosing between them can be a complex decision. To help you find the right fit for your business, we're comparing them head-to-head.

Our comparison is powered by Lightyear's proprietary data, which includes aggregated benchmarks from over 70,000 real ISP quotes on factors like pricing, installation timelines, and delivery points.

Keep reading for our detailed comparison, or if you're ready to explore provider options, you can begin our questionnaire to receive real-time quotes.

Overview of Lumen Technologies

Lumen Technologies is a well-established telecommunications provider with roots going back to 1930. The company is headquartered in Monroe, Louisiana.

It's a large-scale operation with a global team of 28,000 employees serving customers in 60 countries. This scale is reflected in its position as number 292 on the Fortune 500 list.

Lumen places a strong emphasis on preparing its network for the demands of artificial intelligence. Additionally, the company operates its own threat intelligence division, Black Lotus Labs®, to provide advanced cybersecurity.

Overview of Zayo

Founded in 2007, Zayo is headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. The company has around 3,500 employees and provides services in 35 countries. While not a Fortune 500 company, Zayo operates a significant global network.

This network includes over 148,000 route miles of fiber connecting more than 1,700 data centers. Zayo focuses on modernizing network management through self-service platforms and AI-driven tools, an approach that gives customers more direct control over their network services.

ISP Products

Dedicated Internet (DIA)

Lumen's Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) offers a wide range of speeds, from 10 Mbps to 100 Gbps, and comes with a 99.99% uptime SLA. Zayo's DIA product starts at 100 Mbps and also scales to 100 Gbps, with service level objectives beginning at 99.9% uptime.

Both providers offer a similar suite of add-ons like DDoS mitigation and BGP routing. According to Lightyear's data, Lumen's DIA installation timelines average 68 days, which is faster than the 77-day market average. Zayo's installations are slightly longer, averaging 89 days.

When it comes to pricing, our data shows Lumen's 100 Mbps circuits are about 3% above the market average, while their 1 Gbps circuits are 3% below. Zayo's pricing is a bit higher, with 100 Mbps circuits at 7% above average and 1 Gbps circuits at 2% below average.

Please note that these are aggregate figures, and timing can vary significantly based on the region and your DIA configuration.

For an exact comparison of Lumen Technologies, Zayo, and other top ISPs for your desired area, please fill out our questionnaire, which uses the most comprehensive dataset in the industry.

DIA Pricing, Delivery and Install Days Compared

The data in this table comes from Lightyear’s aggregated ISP quotes collected in 2024 and 2025 YTD.

• Install Days: how long it typically takes to deliver service.
• 100Mb Price vs Avg / 1Gb Price vs Avg: shows whether this ISP is cheaper or more expensive than the market average.
• Delivery Point: “Suite” means the ISP delivers service all the way to the company’s server room; “MPOE” means the circuit stops at the building’s minimum point of entry (typically the building's utility basement) and the tenant must handle the inside wiring.

Wireless

Lumen's Wireless WAN service provides businesses with 4G LTE and 5G access by using the networks of major carriers like T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T. This service, available exclusively in the United States, can function as either a primary or backup internet connection. While Lumen previously offered a fixed wireless product, current information is not readily available, and details on wireless plans require engaging a sales representative.

Zayo, on the other hand, does not offer a retail wireless product directly to businesses. The company's focus is on providing the underlying fiber backhaul and connectivity that wireless carriers use to build and operate their own networks.

Essentially, if you're looking for a direct wireless internet service, Lumen is the provider to consider between the two. Zayo operates at the infrastructure level, serving the carriers themselves rather than end-user businesses.

Security

Lumen offers a comprehensive portfolio of security products under its Lumen Cybersecurity Solutions umbrella. The offerings range from foundational services like DDoS mitigation and managed firewalls to advanced solutions including SASE, Web Application Firewall (WAF), and a Virtual Security Operations Center (SOC).

A key aspect of Lumen's security services is the integration of its own threat intelligence division, Black Lotus Labs®, which powers many of its products with automated threat detection and response.

Zayo’s security offering is more specialized, focusing on its Zayo DDoS Protection product. This service provides network-based monitoring and mitigation at the network edge, with proactive detection and scrubbing available in several tiers.

The primary difference is scope. Lumen acts as a broad security partner for businesses wanting a wide array of services from one provider, while Zayo provides a focused solution for companies needing to add strong DDoS protection to their existing security stack.

Broadband

Lumen offers business broadband, though it's not as frequently quoted as their dedicated internet. The market average for a broadband installation is 28 days, but due to limited quoting history for Lumen's service, we’re not able to provide benchmark pricing or installation timelines at this time.

Zayo also provides broadband, which is typically their fiber-based internet service rather than a mass-market product. We have the same data limitations for Zayo's broadband, so we can't offer a comparison on pricing or delivery speed. You can always get the most current information for your specific needs by filling out our questionnaire for a new quote.

Ethernet

The most significant difference in Ethernet services is that Lumen no longer offers this product. Zayo, however, specializes in a range of Ethernet solutions for businesses needing private, high-speed connectivity.

Zayo provides several MEF-compliant Ethernet services, including E-Line (EPL/EVPL) for point-to-point connections and E-LAN for multipoint networking. These services run on Zayo's high-capacity Layer-2 optical network and are available across its on-net and near-net locations in North America and Europe.

POTS Replacement

Lumen provides a dedicated POTS replacement solution with its Cloud Communications Specialty Lines service. This is a fully managed, cloud-based offering designed to replace traditional phone lines for critical safety systems like fire alarms, elevators, and security gates.

The service includes on-site equipment, installation, and multi-carrier cellular backup for reliability. It is designed to meet National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72 standards and can operate over any third-party internet connection, giving businesses flexibility.

Zayo, in contrast, does not offer a comparable, first-party POTS replacement product. The company focuses on providing foundational services like SIP trunking, which can be a component of a POTS replacement strategy but is not a complete, managed solution like Lumen's.

Other Key Features Compared

Geographic Coverage

Lumen has a massive global reach, providing services across 60 countries.

This makes them a solid choice for businesses that need connectivity for international offices or operations.

Zayo's network is also global, though more focused. They provide services in 35 countries, with a strong presence in North America and Western Europe, connecting major business and data center hubs.

SLA

Lumen's Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) comes with a 99.99% uptime guarantee. Zayo's DIA service starts with a 99.9% uptime guarantee, which can be increased.

In practical terms, Lumen's 99.99% SLA means your service could be down for about 53 minutes per year. Zayo's baseline 99.9% SLA allows for up to 8.76 hours of downtime annually.

This shows Lumen offers a stronger reliability promise out of the box. For businesses where constant connectivity is critical, this difference in potential downtime is an important factor.

Transport Types Available

Both Lumen and Zayo offer speeds up to 100 Gbps, which is more than enough for any business need, including heavy data use, streaming, or cloud applications. Lumen's speeds start as low as 10 Mbps, while Zayo's begin at 100 Mbps.

Lumen delivers its services over a massive fiber optic network that covers 340,000 route miles. This extensive reach helps them provide connectivity to a wide variety of business locations.

Zayo also relies on its own fiber network, which spans 144,000 route miles. Their network is built to connect major business centers and data hubs, ensuring high-speed access where it's needed most.

Customer Support

Lumen provides customer support through a large, structured system. You can get help through their online portal, by phone, or via a dedicated account manager, depending on your service level.

Zayo puts a big emphasis on self-service. Their Tranzact platform lets you manage many aspects of your account directly, from ordering services to viewing performance metrics.

The main difference is the approach. Lumen offers a more traditional, multi-channel support experience, while Zayo gives you powerful tools to manage your services yourself.

Final Verdict: Lumen Technologies or Zayo?

Ultimately, the choice between Lumen and Zayo depends on your company's specific priorities. Lumen is a great fit for businesses that need a broad suite of services from a single provider, including security, voice, and wireless, across a vast global footprint.

Their stronger out-of-the-box uptime guarantee also makes them a compelling option for organizations where reliability is the top concern.

Zayo, in contrast, is ideal for companies that require specialized, high-capacity fiber connectivity like Ethernet. Their focus on major business hubs and a powerful self-service platform appeals to IT teams who want direct control over their network infrastructure.

If you need a more focused fiber provider and value hands-on management, Zayo is likely the better choice.

To make your decision a bit easier, here’s a quick side-by-side look at how Lumen and Zayo stack up on the key services and features we've discussed.

Choose the Right ISP Today With Lightyear

Choosing between providers like Lumen and Zayo comes down to your specific business needs. The best way to find the right fit is to compare real-time, benchmarked quotes for your locations, which is exactly what the Lightyear platform was built to do. We bring clarity to telecom procurement by giving you the data to compare all your options in one place.

Our software helps by:

• Automating procurement to show you benchmarked rates from all best-fit providers.
• Negotiating quotes to ensure you get a fair price based on market data.

Ready to simplify the process?

Schedule a demo of Lightyear today

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