Cloud 2.0 Networking: Scaling Bandwidth, Automation, and Intelligence

Lumen Technologies Vice President of Product Management, Ethan Blodgett, shares how AI is transforming how networks are designed, scaled, and automated. As bandwidth demands surge and architectures evolve, service providers must rethink infrastructure, operations, and economics. How can next-generation networks support AI workloads while delivering performance, automation, and new revenue opportunities? 

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In this Executives at the Edge episode, host Pascal Menezes explores these topics and more with Ethan Blodgett of Lumen Technologies:

• What is “Cloud 2.0,” and how does it change how networks are built and operated?
• How is AI transforming network architecture and infrastructure requirements?
• Why do AI workloads demand massive bandwidth, ultra-low latency, and near-zero packet loss?
• How will automation and AI-driven network operations reshape how service providers manage their networks?
• What new opportunities does AI create for service providers to deliver next-generation connectivity services?

Learn More

• Watch Ethan’s presentation at GNE 2025 Cloud 2.0 – The Network for the AI Economy
• Get Mplify’s Market Brief, NaaS for Agentic AI.
• Explore how NaaS is shaping AI-ready, automated networks through on-demand connectivity and assurance.

About Our Guest

Ethan Blodgett, VP, Product Management, Lumen Technologies

Ethan Blodgett is Vice President of Product Management for Managed and Professional Services at Lumen Technologies. In this role, Ethan oversees the strategy and development of scalable service offerings that empower customers to transform their network and IT infrastructures. He is also the driving force behind Lumen Validated Designs, a portfolio of partner-tested, outcome-driven architectures that streamline the adoption of advanced networking and cloud solutions—reducing risk and complexity for enterprise customers.

Before joining Lumen, Ethan spent 15 years at Masergy Communications, where he pioneered customer experience initiatives that led to a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 71, churn rates below 1%, and 100% uptime on the company’s global core network. Earlier, Ethan held executive roles at Xcelocloud, Genesis Networks, SBC, and PageNet, building and leading high-performing global Network Operations Center (NOC) and infrastructure teams. Throughout his career, Ethan has consistently incorporated the customer perspective into operations and service design, earning a reputation for delivering outstanding results and organizational excellence.

Executives at the Edge podcast is brought to you by Mplify, a global alliance of network, cloud, cybersecurity, and enterprise organizations working together to accelerate the AI-powered digital economy through standardization, automation, certification, and collaboration.

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