Nokia announced a partnership with Ready.net, maker of the Broadband.money platform, to help local broadband providers connect unserved and underserved communities. Providers and communities use the data and insight-rich platform to complete broadband audits, collaborate, research, develop and submit informed broadband grant proposals. Nokia will add its expertise and market-leading innovation to the platform, which will be available to users in the form of tutorials, blueprint network designs and tools to help develop the equipment they need, further simplifying the grant application process.

The U.S. federal and state governments have committed more than $97 billion to carriers to build networks in areas where connectivity does not exist or where speeds fall below the minimum 100Mbps download and 20Mbps upload thresholds set by the U.S. government for all U.S. households.

Jase Wilson, Founder and CEO of Ready.net, said: “The United States is making its largest investment in broadband ever. Every dollar must be spent on efficient, durable local networks to realize NTIA’s vision of providing access to all High-performance, affordable access. We are proud to partner with Nokia as a local provider of software and data platforms.”

Successful grant applications for funded projects such as IIJA BEAD, Middle Mile, Tribal and Digital Equity require a comprehensive data analysis of the proposed service area, from socioeconomic makeup to information on existing broadband connections available to residents, community anchor institutions and businesses , as well as physical information such as flood risk and existing cyber assets.

Broadband.money provides geospatial insights, predictive analytics, business intelligence, broadband licensing templates and empirical data in a collaborative and easy-to-use interface. Grant applicants use the platform’s visualization, presentation and management tools to capture data in custom areas, develop projects where they want to serve, and then manage ongoing reporting and compliance obligations throughout the grant lifecycle.

Sandy Motley, President, Fixed Networks, Nokia, said: “High-speed home connectivity is an essential service. Bridging the digital divide is a critical goal, as evidenced by the billions of dollars in funding by the US government. We are very Proud to be a part of and assist Broadband.money’s service platform, which provides incredibly useful tools and resources to help communities start funding and connecting more families, institutions and businesses.”