Chris Sikora, Chief Revenue Officer – Great Plains Communications (GPC)
For me, attending Metro Connect USA 2025 is always a highlight, and 2025 reinforced why it remains one of the premier events in the telecommunications industry. At Great Plains Communications (GPC), our business spans multiple segments—Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH), MDU/SFU, Fiber-to-the-Tower (FTTT), hyperscaler and data center, enterprise connectivity and wholesale carrier services. The conversations at Metro Connect highlighted the very challenges and opportunities shaping our connectivity ecosystem. But the real question is how these trends impact us, and what strategic moves should we consider next?
Middle-Mile & Long-Haul Fiber Networks: Evolving Our Strategy
The historical role of middle-mile fiber, which connected metro markets, is shifting rapidly. Today, it’s just as much about hyperscaler and data center connectivity as it is about linking our markets together. We all know the “why” behind this shift: AI, cloud computing and enterprise network demands are skyrocketing, requiring more robust and redundant routes.
What I’m thinking about:
- Are our future network routes positioned for the hyperscaler demand surge?
- Are we actively identifying and investing in unique, high-value routes?
- Is our business agile enough to pivot toward these changing market needs?
If we’re still relying on traditional builds without considering hyperscaler-driven demand, then we’re missing significant growth opportunities.
Maximizing Fiber Deployment: Market Penetration & ROI—Not Just Deployment
FTTH success isn’t just about deploying fiber quickly; it’s about how effectively we maximize the different areas of the business with it. At GPC we focus on:
- First-mover advantage: Markets get saturated quickly. If we’re late, we’re fighting an uphill battle.
- Strategic marketing and pricing: Speed-to-penetration depends on the right mix of digital and traditional marketing, local engagement and competitive promotions.
- Maximizing ROI on fiber builds: Every fiber route should be engineered to capture all possible revenue streams, including business customers, MDUs and FTTT opportunities.
What I’m thinking about:
- Have we selected the right markets and prepared to pivot?
- Do we have the right go-to-market strategy for new FTTH deployments?
- Are we designing fiber builds with business, MDUs and 5G backhaul in mind?
- Are we maximizing revenue per fiber mile, or solely focused on passing the most addresses?
Evolving Beyond Connectivity: Why Customers Expect More
Simply providing fiber isn’t enough anymore. Customers, whether residential, business or enterprise, expect more than connectivity. They want solutions that help them operate more efficiently and securely. The real challenge is achieving the best throughput and lowest latency, ensuring network security, enabling seamless voice and video and providing stable, secure Wi-Fi for customers and employees. These are the problems we’re solving and the same challenges our customers face every day.
What I’m thinking about:
- Are we actively evolving our service portfolio to meet customer pain points?
- Does my team and sales engineers know how to have “teaching conversations” with my customers?
- Are we positioning our company as a strategic technology partner, not just a network provider?
If we’re still just selling bandwidth, we’re missing out on revenue opportunities that others will seize first.
Digital Transformation: Efficiency is Our Competitive Advantage
Future-proofing our network is more than upgrading technology—it’s optimizing operations. Companies that streamline processes and leverage automation will scale faster and operate more profitably.
What I’m thinking about:
- Where do we still rely on manual processes that could be automated—billing, customer provisioning or network monitoring?
- How can AI-driven analytics predict demand and optimize deployment strategies?
- Are our internal systems ready to integrate seamlessly with partners and interconnect networks?
The Talent Imperative: Why Employee Engagement Defines Our Future
No matter how great our network is, our people build, maintain and sell it. The best technology won’t matter if we can’t attract and retain top talent. The companies that invest in employee engagement—career development, leadership training, mentorship programs, and company culture—will win.
What I’m thinking about:
- Are we developing internal talent for leadership roles, or relying on external hires?
- Do our employees feel valued and connected to our mission?
- Are we investing enough in retention strategies like career pathing, leadership training, and mentorship programs?
Post MetroConnect Here’s My Next Steps
- Maximizing Fiber ROI— Every fiber route should be engineered to capture all possible revenue streams.
- Refine FTTH approach—Are we maximizing pricing, marketing and penetration strategies?
- Expand beyond connectivity—Are we positioning ourselves as a technology partner, not just a provider?
- Invest in automation and digital transformation—Are we improving efficiency to stay competitive?
- Prioritize culture and talent development—Are we attracting and retaining the right people?
Metro Connect reinforced a lot of my thinking and gave me some new insights as well. Thanks very much to the Metro Connect team for an outstanding conference.
Next Up: the ITW Conference, May 5-7 in National Harbor. Feel free to reach out if you’d like to connect.
