Great Plains Communications (GPC) is steering a strategic pivot toward data center-driven markets, according to Christopher Sikora, GPC’s CRO. In the latest Beyond the Cable episode, Sikora explains how GPC has positioned itself to monetize fiber across a data center-focused marketplace.
Sikora attributes GPC’s momentum to a blend of competency, a willingness to rethink entrenched models, financial stability, and a strong company culture. “Fiber goes where that fiber goes,” he said, adding that monetizing fiber is a core part of the strategy.
GPC’s pivot was underscored by a November deal with Aphorio Carter, a real estate investment firm. The partnership will deliver redundant, high-capacity fiber to a new colocation and data-center facility in Simpsonville, Kentucky, with the data center gaining direct access to GPC’s network and capabilities to support up to 400 Gbps transport and 100 Gbps dedicated internet access (DIA).
Sikora stressed that the approach requires spinning many plates: “It’s multiple lines of revenue, multiple return profiles,” he said. He contends that this diversification makes GPC financially healthier and, ultimately, benefits customers and partners.
To hear the full interview, listeners can find Beyond the Cable on Apple Podcasts and YouTube, where Part 1 and Part 2 of Sikora’s discussion are available. Broadband Communities also covers related aspects of GPC’s data center initiatives, including Kentucky deployments.
