CenturyLink is making it possible for its cloud customers to directly link to the IBM Cloud. This will make it possible for enterprises to bypass the public internet and establish a direct connection to IBM.

According to Chris McReynolds, vice president of core network services at CenturyLink, the company added IBM to its portfolio of cloud companies so that its customers could operate in a multi-cloud environment and take advantage of IBM's cloud capabilities. The telco already provides direct connections to Amazon Web Services (AWS), Oracle, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

CenturyLink's collaboration with IBM Cloud is part of a bigger partnership between the two firms. CenturyLink already supports IBM's business resiliency and managed cloud platform. McReynolds said that IBM’s other services are key for things like private networking, disaster recovery, and network backup.

IBM Cloud customers will be able to connect through CenturyLink’s network in key locations across North America, Europe, and Latin America including cities such as Amsterdam; Ashburn, Virginia; Atlanta; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; London; Los Angeles; New York; Paris; Reston, Virginia; San Jose, California; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Seattle; and Toronto.

McReynolds noted that Latin America was particularly important to IBM, which has a lot of customers in that region. And the Latin American and European cities only recently became part of CenturyLink’s portfolio thanks to the company’s acquisition of Level 3 Communications.

“This is good for both our customers and IBM’s customers,” McReynolds said. “We can provide the network connectivity to their customers. And we can provide their cloud services to our customers. It’s a good way to host applications."

IBM Cloud’s partnership with CenturyLink is similar to one it has with BT in which BT provides direct access to IBM’s cloud and cloud-native services such as artificial intelligence, IoT, and big data. IBM also partners with other service providers including AT&T, Verizon, Vodafone, Comcast Business, Equinix, and Megaport.