Meta has signed a multi-year agreement worth up to $6bn with Corning to supply fibre optic cables for its expanding US data centre network, in a move aimed at strengthening domestic manufacturing and supporting the company’s AI infrastructure ambitions.
Under the deal, Corning will provide high-performance fibre optic cable used to connect servers and hardware across Meta’s data centres, enabling near-real-time data transfer for applications ranging from generative AI systems to consumer products such as Ray-Ban Meta AI smart glasses.
The agreement will support a 15–20% increase in employment at Corning’s North Carolina operations, alongside expanded manufacturing capacity. This includes a significant scale-up at the Trivium Corporate Center in Catawba County, where Corning produces optical fibre and cable for global markets.
Joel Kaplan, Meta’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, said the partnership would combine advanced infrastructure development with US-based manufacturing. “Building the most advanced data centers in the US requires world-class partners and American manufacturing,” he said, adding that the collaboration would help create skilled jobs and support the country’s competitiveness in AI.
Corning Chairman and CEO Wendell P. Weeks said the long-term agreement would expand the company’s manufacturing footprint in North Carolina and sustain a workforce of more than 5,000 people across its optical fibre and cable facilities.
Meta currently has 26 data centres operational or under construction in the US. The company said these facilities have supported around 30,000 skilled construction jobs and 5,000 ongoing operational roles, reflecting continued investment as demand for AI and digital connectivity grows.
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