Great Plains Communications purchased Kearney, Nebraska-based USA Communications and expanded its fiber network into areas of Nebraska and Colorado. Great Plains now has a fiber network touching 13 states and spanning more than 13,500 miles. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
USA Communications has been in business since 1995 and provides fiber connectivity to business and residential customers in parts of Nebraska and Colorado. Great Plains said it plans to initially focus on expanding USA Communications’ fiber network to more homes and businesses in Kearney, Grand Island and other Nebraska communities.
Great Plains is privately-owned and its fiber footprint is primarily concentrated in Indiana and Nebraska. However, it also has wholesale fiber for last- and middle-mile access in parts of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, South Dakota and Wyoming.
The company is currently upgrading much of its network and is using XGS-PON and other fiber technologies for its builds.
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Great Plains is owned by investment firm Grain Management, which focuses its investments on telecom infrastructure and fiber networks.
This is Great Plains third acquisition since it was acquired by Grain Management in October 2018. And it doesn’t plan to stop expanding anytime soon. In a statement, Todd Foje, CEO of Great Plains said that the company plans to work with its owners at Grain Management to identify future areas of expansion.
In September 2020, Great Plains purchased Enhanced Telecommunications in Southeastern Indiana. In August 2019 it purchased InterCarrier Networks, a fiber provider in Illinois, Indiana, the St. Louis metro area, and Kentucky.
Great Plains also purchased Pinpoint Network Solutions and the Pinpoint Broadband business units of Pinpoint Holdings, in 2016, but that was prior to being acquired by Grain Management.