Corning Incorporated has secured a multi-year agreement worth over $3 billion with AT&T to supply fiber and cable for U.S. broadband expansion. The company is also expanding domestic production capacity and partnering with Verizon for fiber solutions. Rising data consumption and AI adoption are driving demand for advanced connectivity infrastructure.

Mplify announced the winners of its 2026 NaaS Excellence Awards, recognizing organizations advancing Network-as-a-Service, automation, and AI-ready digital infrastructure. Major winners include PCCW Global (NaaS Service Provider of the Year), Lumen Technologies (North America), Equinix (Interconnection Infrastructure Leadership), and Tata Communications (Secure NaaS Leadership). Professional awards honored Ron Insler (RAD), Jeremy Villalobos (Orchest Technologies), Dan Pitt (Palo Alto), and Pascal Menezes (Mplify).

Corning has entered into a multi-year, multi-billion-dollar agreement with Verizon to supply over 80 million miles of optical fiber and connectivity solutions through 2032. The deal supports broadband expansion and AI data center infrastructure, leveraging Corning's Contour Flow Cable technology to improve network capacity and efficiency. The partnership is expected to drive Corning's U.S. manufacturing expansion.

Lumen Technologies reported a narrower-than-expected Q2 2026 loss of 7 cents per share versus consensus estimate of 15 cents. Strategic revenues grew 14.1% year-over-year to represent 53% of total business, while legacy revenues declined 15.1%. The company highlighted strong NaaS adoption (up 22% sequentially with 3,000 customers), AI-driven networking demand, and the completed Alkira acquisition. Shares have gained 12% since earnings, outperforming the S&P 500. Lumen maintained its full-year 2026 guidance with adjusted EBITDA between $3.1-$3.3 billion and free cash flow of $1.9-$2.1 billion.

Lumen Technologies and Viasat represent two distinct infrastructure plays in global communications. Lumen is transitioning from legacy services to enterprise fiber and AI networking following its residential fiber divestiture to AT&T, but faces significant debt and declining revenue. Viasat provides satellite-based connectivity with strong government contracts and improving cash flow, though it carries substantial debt and faces competition from well-capitalized rivals. The analysis concludes Viasat is the better buy in 2026 due to its alignment with satellite data service trends and stronger financial trajectory.

HR Tech 2026 conference (October 20-22 in Las Vegas) unveiled its agenda featuring sessions on AI implementation, skills development, and workforce transformation. Leading HR and talent executives from major companies including Amsted Industries, Cloudflare, IFF, Lumen, Sanofi, and TIAA will share practical strategies on job architecture, AI adoption, internal mobility, and HR technology readiness.

Atos announced expanded adoption of Lumen's Network as a Service (NaaS) across its North America data centers to support AI-ready digital transformation. The on-demand, consumption-based service provides scalability, cost efficiency, and seamless connectivity for hybrid and multi-cloud environments, enabling Atos to accelerate its AI and agentic transformation initiatives.

OneTrust announced expansion of its AI governance platform with real-time monitoring and enforcement capabilities across agents, models, and data. The new features include AI Agent Detection & Inventory, AI Policy Manager, and AI Guardrail Enforcement to enable continuous, run-time control. The platform integrates with major cloud providers and is being adopted by enterprises like Blackbaud, Kuehne + Nagel, and Lumen Technologies for operationalizing responsible AI governance.

With the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates in 2024-2025, high-yielding blue chip dividend stocks are becoming attractive again. AT&T and Philip Morris International are recommended as safe-haven dividend plays. AT&T has streamlined its business, growing its 5G and fiber segments with strong free cash flow coverage of dividends. PMI is diversifying away from cigarettes through smoke-free products like iQOS and Zyn, which now represent 43% of revenue, while maintaining steady dividend growth.

AT&T reaffirmed its 2026 guidance ahead of the Morgan Stanley Technology, Media & Telecom Conference. The company closed its acquisition of Lumen's Mass Markets fiber business ahead of schedule, adding over 1 million fiber subscribers and expanding reach to 4 million fiber locations. AT&T targets adjusted EPS of $2.25-$2.35 for 2026, projects 3-4% adjusted EBITDA growth, and plans to return over $45 billion to shareholders through 2028. The stock was up 0.20% at $28.06 on Tuesday.

Lumen Technologies director Diankha Linear sold 45,000 shares (18.5% of her holdings) for ~$355,000 on Feb. 20, 2026, citing tax and estate planning. While the sale is not concerning given her retained 198,229 shares, the company faces headwinds: declining revenue ($12.4B in 2025 vs. $13.1B in 2024), a $1.7B net loss, and $17B in debt. Despite a 67% share price surge over the past year following a strategic pivot to AI-optimized fiber networks, the analyst recommends waiting for a stock price drop before investing.

Both Lumen Technologies and Nokia are pivoting toward AI-focused telecommunications solutions. However, Nokia emerges as the superior investment choice due to its growing revenue (up 3% to 19.9B euros in 2025), profitability with 885M euros operating profit, strong free cash flow of 1.5B euros supporting a 2% dividend, and tangible AI progress including a partnership with Nvidia and deployment of the world's first 5G SaaS network. In contrast, Lumen faces declining sales (down to $12.4B from $13.1B), operating losses of $812M, and minimal free cash flow of $371M with no dividend.