Regional fiber-based broadband provider Altafiber tapped Nokia to provide fiber infrastructure in support of a multigigabit network expansion in Ohio and Hawaii, which is another notch in Nokia’s ongoing fiber broadband focus.

Altafiber will deploy Nokia’s Lightspan 25 Gb/s (25G) passive optical network (PON), IP routing, and optical network platform to act as the “intelligent backbone” to the upgraded network. This will include the use of Nokia’s 7750 Service Routers, the vendor’s Deepfield security platform, and Nokia’s 1830 Photonic Service Switch and Interconnect products.

This platform can support network speeds from 10G up to 50G using the same infrastructure, allowing Altafiber to tune support for specific use cases.

“This partnership ensures we can deliver unparalleled speed and reliability to support the growing needs of our customers,” Altafiber Chief Network Officer Ron Beerman said of the deal in a statement.

Altafiber was formed in early 2022, following a $2.9 billion take-private transaction with Macquarie Asset Management. It has previously operated under the Cincinnati Bell brand. It’s Hawaii operations operate as Hawaiin Telecom.

Altafiber had previously worked with Nokia and The Wright State University Foundation to open a 5G test lab in Ohio. That lab was focused on private 5G use cases.

Nokia’s networking focus

The latest expansion continues Nokia’s growing optical and fiber presence.

That presence received its biggest boost earlier this year with the closing of its $2.3 billion Infinera purchase, a deal that combined the market’s No. 3 and No. 5 vendors. The deal also greatly enhanced Nokia’s presence in North America.

Nokia also recently pledged to spend $4 billion bolstering its U.S.-based research and development efforts. That multi-year pledge included $3.5 billion targeted at mobile, optical, and data center networking technologies, with the rest focused on manufacturing sites in Texas, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Nokia CEO Justin Hotard said the investment will “strengthen the [U.S.]’s capacity to deliver greater security, productivity, and prosperity through AI-optimized connectivity at scale, while advancing the newest research and innovation that will shape the future of networking for the years to come.”