Network equipment giant Nokia claims it is the first telecom vendor to offer fiber-optic broadband network electronics products and optical modules for use in the U.S. Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.
Fiber-optic networks are used to connect everything to gigabit data services and use thin strands of glass to transmit data with light. Nokia is partnering with Sanmina Corp. to manufacture in the U.S. several fiber-optic broadband products and will use Sanmina’s manufacturing factory in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. The site will bring up to 200 new jobs to the state.
Nokia said by manufacturing its own networking equipment, it can supply its products easier to BEAD and other projects to create job growth and economic gains. Additionally, as part of the BEAD requirement is to have technology built in the U.S. and gain access to the $42.45 billion of funding for broadband rollouts to unserved and underserved communities.
Nokia fiber-optic broadband products manufactured in the U.S. include:
- Optical line termination card for a modular access node
- A small form factor OLT
- OLT optical modules
- An “outdoor-hardened” optical network terminal (ONT)
Pekka Lundmark, president and CEO of Nokia, said many Americans currently lack adequate connectivity, which becomes a disadvantage when accessing work, education and healthcare.
“Programs like BEAD can change this,” Lundmark said. “By bringing the manufacturing of our fiber-optic broadband access products to the U.S., BEAD participants will be able to work with us to bridge the digital divide. We look forward to bringing more Americans online.”
