Case Study
Warsaw, Missouri — Network Connectivity Assessment
A preliminary viability analysis prepared for a data center developer evaluating a site in Warsaw, Missouri (Benton County) for AI workload deployment. This summary demonstrates the scope and depth of our assessment methodology.
The Challenge
Warsaw (population ~2,200) in Benton County had limited telecommunications infrastructure. Only 25% of the area had fiber coverage, served primarily by Co-Mo Connect, a local electric cooperative. There was no existing enterprise carrier presence from providers like Zayo, Crown Castle, or Lumen, meaning connectivity had to be constructed rather than procured. The client needed to know: is this site viable for an AI-capable data center, and what does it cost to bring carrier-grade connectivity here?
Our Finding
Warsaw presents a viable but infrastructure-intensive location for AI data center development. While the site currently lacks enterprise carrier presence, its strategic positioning between Kansas City and Springfield enables a robust dual-path architecture that meets hyperscaler connectivity requirements.
Strategic Positioning
Warsaw sits between two major interconnection hubs, enabling geographically opposite routing that minimizes common failure modes:
Kansas City — 1102 Grand Boulevard
88-105 route miles | 120+ carriers | AWS Direct Connect, Google Cloud Interconnect
Springfield — City Utilities Fiber Network
84 route miles | 1,000+ mile municipal fiber | Lumen anchor tenant
St. Louis — Globe Building
150-160 route miles | 550,000 SF carrier hotel | Additional diversity option
Recommended Architecture
Path A: Northbound to Kansas City
Primary route following the I-49/US-71 corridor, approximately 105 route miles to 1102 Grand Boulevard. Access to the full carrier ecosystem including Zayo, Lumen, AT&T, Cogent, and 100+ additional providers. Kansas City also offers direct interconnection to major cloud platforms, critical for AI workloads requiring low-latency hyperscaler access.
Path B: Southbound to Springfield
Diverse route approximately 84 miles south, connecting to Springfield's municipally owned fiber network with Lumen as anchor tenant on this 1,000+ mile network (completed 2022). Maximum geographic separation from the Kansas City route, critical insurance against regional events.
Carrier Landscape
Once connectivity to Kansas City and Springfield is established, multiple enterprise-grade providers become available:
Dark fiber, 400G wavelengths, IP transit
19M+ fiber miles nationally, strong KC presence
Dark fiber, wavelengths, Ethernet
90,000 route miles, carrier-neutral model
Lit services, wavelengths, internet
Springfield anchor tenant, $8.5B AI contracts
Dark fiber, regional transport
10,600 Midwest route miles, Sedalia POP
Investment Framework
170-190
Total route miles
$40-120K
Per mile (method dependent)
16-18
Months to operational
Hybrid
Aerial + underground
The full assessment provides detailed cost projections by route segment, construction methodology recommendations, carrier-led vs. self-build analysis, and refined timeline projections based on right-of-way conditions.
Need This Analysis for Your Site?
Whether you're evaluating a single location or a portfolio of prospective sites, our assessment gives you the connectivity data you need before you commit capital.