August 19, 2026 – Sioux Falls, SD: Following the successful delivery of a historic 400G connectivity solution supporting AI infrastructure in North Dakota, Nokia has named Midco the recipient of its Breakthrough Award, recognizing exceptional innovation, execution and partnership.
“Over many years, Nokia and Midco have developed a partnership grounded in trust, collaboration and a shared willingness to take on complex challenges,” said John Czeban, Nokia Vice President of MSO Sales. “This relationship is not just about supplying technology. It is about working together to build the network capabilities that allow Midco to pursue and secure new opportunities.”
The recognition follows Midco and Nokia’s successful execution of one of the largest connectivity projects in Midco’s history. In May, the companies announced a multistate connectivity agreement supporting critical AI infrastructure in Ellendale, North Dakota. Together, both companies delivered:
• 200 terabits per second of total bandwidth
• More than 500 individual 400-gigabit service circuits
• 225 optical shelves deployed across 45 pallets of equipment
• Initial services within six weeks of contract signing
• Full 200-terabit capacity in just four-and-a-half months
In July, Midco completed the project and transferred operational control of the connectivity routes to its client. The effort required close coordination across engineering, operations, procurement, sales, strategy, logistics and partner organizations. Leaders from Nokia and Midco gathered in Sioux Falls to celebrate the project’s success and present the award.
“The successful delivery of the Switch connectivity solution resulted from long-term investments in infrastructure, engineering, relationships and capabilities,” said Midco President and COO Ben Dold. “It became one of the most transformational opportunities our company has pursued in more than 95 years. It supports the rapidly growing AI and hyperscale ecosystem in our region and positions Midco in an entirely new category of connectivity leadership.”
Dold thanked the Midco team for their commitment to delivering a solution on a compressed timeline and Nokia for their trust and partnership.
“Delivering critical infrastructure for hyperscale and AI workloads requires partners who can innovate, execute and solve problems alongside you. Nokia helped us do exactly that,” Dold said. “The expertise, technology and support Nokia brought to this effort were instrumental in turning a bold vision into a real-world solution. We are honored to receive this award and look forward to the next phase of network growth and partnership.”
The award underscores Midco’s growing role in supporting large-scale AI, cloud and hyperscale connectivity initiatives throughout the region and reflects the company’s continued investment in next-generation network capabilities. Visit Midco.com/Wholesale to learn more about the extensive coverage, 400G circuit options and 24/7 support provided by Midco’s Wholesale team.
About Midco
Founded in 1931, Midco is a telecommunications leader redefining connectivity. We maintain market leadership by providing exceptional customer experiences using the region’s most reliable owned and operated fiber network spanning 21,000 miles. Midco’s service area covers more than 1.2 million homes and businesses in over 600 communities with 1,900 team members across Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Our mission is to be the best communications company in the country for our neighbors, team members, partners and communities. To learn more, text 64326, call 1.800.888.1300 or start a live chat with a Midco team member at Midco.com/Contact today.
About Nokia
Nokia is a global leader in connectivity infrastructure powering the AI supercycle. We create the networks that connect intelligence, combining a complete connectivity view across fixed, mobile, IP, optical, core and data center networks. Through secure-by-design, AI-native innovation, Nokia delivers the trusted infrastructure that makes AI work at scale and advances connectivity to secure a brighter world.
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