Tech
‘Soaring’ AI demand accelerates Lumen’s multibillion-dollar network expansion | Computer Weekly
Lumen Technologies has released a status report on its infrastructure build-out during 2025, claiming milestones on its mission to build 47 million intercity fibre miles.
Altogether, Lumen said construction was underway coast-to-coast, and that it has delivered “significant” progress in its mission to build the backbone for the artificial intelligence (AI) economy. It added that it was moving forward with a multibillion-dollar build, with plans to add 34 million intercity fibre miles by the end of 2028, as part of the 47 million intercity fibre mile target. The company said it has already delivered network capacity upgrades and high-speed connectivity enhancements in 2025 to build the network infrastructure enterprises need to power their AI workloads.
“This isn’t incremental: we’re positioning Lumen as the trusted network for AI, ensuring our customers have the network scale, speed and reliability to confidently innovate and grow without constraints,” said Kye Prigg, executive vice-president of enterprise operations at Lumen Technologies.
Highlighting specific milestones, the company said that in terms of new fibre deployed by the end of August 2025, it put down more than 2.2 million new intercity fibre miles (2,500+ route miles). This is projected to reach 16.6 million total intercity fibre miles by the end of the year. Lumen noted that it is utilising next-generation fibre optic cable from Corning to fit two times more fibre into existing conduits.
Construction efforts for signal boosters are now underway at 176 in-line amplifier (ILA) sites. Lumen observed that ILA shelters built on these sites are designed to serve as giant signal boosters along the network, with as much as triple the power density compared with traditional ILA shelters, and be updated, renewed and scaled for the future
The company has also expanded Conduit Access, completing indefeasible right of use conduit deployments across 55 additional routes expanding its ability to add and control fibre on these routes by securing long-term rights to underground pathways.
In terms of network capacity, Lumen said that by August 2025, it added 5.9+ Pbps of total capacity to its network so far this year, and that it was preparing to deliver the bandwidth needed to handle large volumes of data processing. It has also extended faster speeds, earmarking more than $100m to bring high-speed connectivity up to 400Gbps across clouds, datacentres and metros, creating what the firm believes is the required high-performance pipeline for AI workloads. The Lumen 400G-enabled network now spans more than 100,000 route miles.
With diverse routes connecting more than 50 major cities, Lumen said it operates the largest ultra-low-loss intercity fibre network in North America using fibre with 25% less optical loss than competitors. This is calculated on less loss translating to less frequent need for fibre optic signal regeneration, decreasing equipment costs with the 25% figure based on a comparison to vintage 2,000 fibre (decrease from .22 db/km loss to.17 db/km).
The network is also attributed with having 60% more capacity than traditional designs so it can move data more efficiently and at greater scale. The Lumen network is also attributed with offering less than five millisecond latency at the edge, covering up to 97% of US business demand.
Another key facet highlighted in the status report was an update on the Lumen Private Connectivity Fabric. Designed for AI workloads, its aim is to help businesses unite services and drive efficiency with a self-service portal and full lifecycle automation. It allows them to purchase, deploy and remotely manage consumption-based services with the speed and agility demanded by a multi-cloud, AI-first world.
“Every mile of new fibre and capacity upgrade adds to the strength of our Private Connectivity Fabric,” said Prigg. “Lumen is doing more than expanding infrastructure, we’re laying the foundation for the AI economy.”
Tech
This App Makes Even the Sketchiest PDF or Word Doc Safe to Open
Word documents, and even PDF files, aren’t necessarily safe. These normally innocuous files can be injected with malicious “poison” code or simple scripts of code that can be a serious security risk.
You probably already know it’s dangerous to open files from sources you can’t necessarily trust. If you’re an activist or journalist—or anyone who occasionally depends on anonymous tips to do their jobs—you might run into a situation where potentially useful information is inside a Microsoft Word document or PDF file that you can’t exactly vouch for. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could open those files and read them without exposing your device to potential security risks?
Dangerzone is a free and open source tool built for this purpose. Originally built by journalist and security engineer Micah Lee, this application opens files in a sandbox environment with no internet access, then converts the file to an image-based PDF with no scripting enabled. The resulting PDF has any malicious code stripped out and should be safe to open—at least, as safe as anything can be.
“You can think of it like printing a document and then rescanning it to remove anything sketchy, except all done in software,” explains the about page, which includes a lot of fascinating details about how the application works.
To get started, download and install Dangerzone. There are downloads for Windows, macOS, and various Linux systems. The first time you run it there will be a brief setup, after which you can simply drag files to the window.
Photograph: Justin Pot
The application can open and convert PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Open Office, EPUB, and image files. You can drag and drop multiple documents at once, if you’d like.
After adding documents you will be asked a few questions: where you’d like the resulting files to end up, whether they should open after the conversion is done, and whether you’d like to use optical character recognition (OCR) in order to make the document searchable. You can also move the original, potentially unsafe documents into a subfolder named “unsafe,” helping ensure you don’t confuse them with the newly made safe ones.
Photograph: Justin Pot
Tech
Litter-Robot Promo Codes: $150 Off Bundles, $50 Off the Starter Bundle, and More
I always tell people that the best thing I’ve ever tested for my job here on the WIRED Reviews team is my automatic litter box from Litter-Robot. I recommend every cat owner invest in an automatic litter box. If they can swing it, the Litter-Robot is the best one to invest in. You’ll be able to say goodbye to the days of scooping and smells while this nifty machine does the grunt work for you.
Litter-Robot is the OG automatic litter box, and the name itself has become synonymous with the concept. And that’s not by accident, as the brand makes incredibly well-made, ergonomic products to help the lives of pet parents everywhere. Along with their famous automatic litter boxes, they also make a super sleek automatic pet feeder that I’ve also tested (and loved). These gadgets are an investment, and can be pricey, but we here at WIRED love the brand so much that we’ve rounded up some of the best Litter-Robot promo codes, coupons, and deals to make these life-changing pet machines more affordable. Because your pet (and you) deserve it.
Get $150 Off Litter-Robot Bundles This Month: No Promo Code Needed
One of the best ways to save big without needing a Litter-Robot promo code is to buy in a bundle. Litter-Robot has several bundles that give you all the essentials you’ll need to get started using your automatic litter box, like a litter trapping mat, replacement waste bags, odor eliminators, litter, and more. A bundle is a great way to save money on the purchases you’ll already have to make, without needing a Litter-Robot coupon. You can get $150 off several different bundles, including Litter-Robot 4 models, as well as the newly released Litter-Robot 5 and Litter-Robot EVO models.
Get the Best Deals on the Litter-Robot 4
I’ve tested well over a dozen models of automatic litter boxes from different brands, including several models from Litter-Robot. The one I keep coming back to is my personal favorite, the Litter-Robot 4. Even though the 5 is the newest model (I’ve tested it and I’m in the process of writing the review now), I just can’t quit you, Litter-Robot 4! I still think it’s one of the best automatic litter boxes you can buy: it has a user-friendly, intuitive connected app that isn’t overcrowded or confusing, the drawer is easy to pull out to remove waste, it has buttons on the top to manually change, and it doesn’t take up a large footprint on the floor. Plus, with a variety of discounted bundles to choose from, you won’t even need a Litter-Robot promo code.
Litter-Robot 5 Pro Insights Bundle Discount: $150 Off
As previously mentioned, I just tested the Litter-Robot 5 Pro, part of Litter-Robot’s recently released line of brand new models. I was seriously impressed with this model, which looks super similar to the Litter-Robot 4, but has a built-in camera to see what’s going on inside and outside of the box. The newest model isn’t cheap, but right now, the Litter-Robot 5 Pro Insights Bundle is only $999 ($152 off). This bundle includes the newest Litter-Robot 5 Pro with built-in camera, plus a litter tracking mat and waste drawer liners to get you started. And as an added bonus, Litter-Robot has a 90-day in-home trial, one-year warranty, and free shipping to the lower 48.
Take $50 Off the Litter-Robot EVO Starter Bundle
The Litter-Robot EVO is another newly released model from Litter-Robot, but this one is a more pared-down, basic version that’s streamlined and compact. I personally love the simpler models (hence my paragraph-long love letter to the Litter-Robot 4 above). If you’re someone who doesn’t need to watch a camera feed of your cat peeing and pooing, the EVO is a more affordable, basic option that gets the job done efficiently. Right now, the Litter-Robot EVO Starter Bundle is $782 ($50 off), and has everything you need to get settled with your new auto box, including waste drawer liners, a litter trap mat, a bag of litter, and odor traps to keep things smelling fresh.
Save 35% on Cat Essentials With a Litter-Robot Discount Code
If you live in a big city like me, there’s nothing worse than carrying heavy litter down icy streets or in hot, packed subway cars. Autoshipping my (often heavy) cat essentials has been a game-changer. If you choose autoship, you’ll save 35% on cat essentials like litter, waste drawer liners, odor traps, filters, and more with this Litter-Robot discount code.
{Get 35% Off Litter-Robot Accessories
I love my Litter-Robot 4, but I highly encourage everyone to spring for the Litter-Robot-branded accessories to accompany the device. This automatic litter box works excellently as is, but things like a ramp for senior cats, filter replacements, and odor traps will keep the device running like new for longer. Keep your investment in tip-top shape for way less with discounted accessories and bundles, for up to 35% off.
Tech
Our Favorite Amazon Streaming Stick Is Almost Half Off
If your TV isn’t as smart as you hoped, or you just hate its built-in interface for some reason, there are a variety of other options for dedicated streaming. For households that watch a lot of shows and movies on Prime Video or use Alexa for their smart home management, we recommend checking out the Fire TV Stick 4K Max. The latest generation is currently marked down to just $35 for the Amazon Big Spring Sale, a $25 discount from its usual price.
While the Fire TV Stick is a good choice for Prime Video, it plays well with basically all of the major streaming services you’d expect, including Netflix, Disney+, and HBO Max. The previous generation had just 8 GB of storage, but the new model’s upgraded 16 GB means you won’t have to choose which apps to keep and which to delete. If you have a compatible controller and an Xbox Game Pass subscription, you can even stream games directly to the Fire TV Stick right from the cloud. With some help from Wi-Fi 6E, apps will download faster and stream at higher quality with less buffering, as long as your router supports it.
One of the standout features is the Fire TV Stick’s integration with Alexa smart home systems. While watching your shows, you can easily pull up a picture-in-picture of any security feeds, and there are options to control other smart devices, like lights, right from your television. The remote even doubles as an Alexa with its built-in microphone, letting you find shows or ask questions without getting off the couch. With a built-in gallery mode, the TV can slowly rotate through photos and paintings like a screensaver, and you can ask the remote to quickly find out what you’re looking at.
The world of streaming devices is surprisingly deep, so if you’re curious what else is out there, make sure to swing by our guide to the best 4K streaming sticks and hubs. For the Alexa and Amazon-powered home, there’s no substitute for the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, so make sure to grab yours for just $35 before the sale ends.
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