Nokia has announced that it is the first technology vendor to self-certify its U.S.-manufactured fiber products, ensuring they meet the requirements outlined in the newly established Buy America Build America (BABA) compliance and self-certification guidelines for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. With this certification, BEAD applicants can now obtain a Certification Letter from Nokia to demonstrate BABA compliance, facilitating their access to the program's $42.45 billion in available funding.
To participate in the BEAD program, operators and infrastructure players must use U.S.-manufactured fiber broadband equipment, as mandated by federal regulations. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has created a self-certification framework to help manufacturers prove their compliance, adding them to a Department of Commerce-managed list. This process is designed to prevent fraudulent claims, requiring company officers to certify their products under penalty of fine or imprisonment and provide BABA certification letters for audit purposes. Nokia's certified products include:
- Nokia FX and MF OLT modular product lines
- Nokia SF-8M sealed OLT
- XS-220X-A ONT
