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US telecommunications equipment manufacturer Adtran has announced plans to expand its manufacturing plant in Huntsville, Alabama. The expansion aims to support the domestic production of fibre equipment and create up to 300 new jobs. The company will invest million in the project, which will involve increasing the production of optical line termination equipment and bringing the manufacturing of optical network terminals onshore.

The decision to expand the plant is driven by the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) programme. This initiative, part of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, allocates .45 billion in public funds to expand internet access in the United States. Alabama, for example, is set to receive .4 billion in funding to expand broadband access across the state.

In order to benefit from the BEAD funding, companies must commit to purchasing equipment produced in the US, as part of President Biden’s ‘Made in America’ campaign. Adtran’s expansion is a response to this requirement, as companies need to enhance their domestic production capabilities to secure BEAD-funded manufacturing contracts.

The expansion of Adtran’s manufacturing plant is seen as a positive move towards promoting domestic manufacturing and creating job opportunities. Alan Davidson, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Administrator, stated, “If network equipment can be made in America, it should be made in America. Companies like Adtran are stepping up and answering that call.”

This announcement coincides with Nokia’s collaboration with manufacturing firm Sanmina Corporation to produce fibre optic network equipment at a factory in Wisconsin. Both Adtran and Nokia are aiming to tap into the financial opportunities presented by the BEAD programme.

The expansion of Adtran’s manufacturing capabilities in Huntsville demonstrates the growing focus on expanding broadband access and domestic manufacturing in the US telecommunications industry.

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