Key Takeaways
Amazon's multibillion-dollar agreement with Corning to supply fiber optic cable for its expanding data center network will create 1,000 manufacturing jobs in North Carolina and hundreds more in construction.
Amazon struck a multiyear, multibillion-dollar deal with Corning Inc. to supply optical fiber, cable and connectivity products for the company's data center infrastructure across the U.S., the companies said Monday. The agreement will create 1,000 new advanced manufacturing positions at Corning's facilities in North Carolina, with average annual salaries exceeding $65,000, and support hundreds of construction jobs to expand the company's plants.
"This agreement with Amazon represents a significant milestone for Corning and for American manufacturing," Wendell Weeks, chairman, CEO and president of Corning, said. "Amazon's investment will help us expand production, create 1,000 new advanced manufacturing jobs at our facilities, and lead the way toward building a resilient U.S. manufacturing base."
Corning shares surged 10% in pre-market trading following the announcement. The company, which employs more than 5,000 workers across North Carolina and 60,000 globally, will supply fiber optic technology that powers Amazon's data center operations. The deal builds on a separate $6 billion partnership Corning signed with Meta Platforms in January to expand optical cable manufacturing in Hickory, North Carolina — a project that will become the largest optical cable plant in the world, according to Corning Optical Senior Vice President Mike O'Day.
The agreement underscores the intensifying race among hyperscalers to secure domestic supply chains for the physical infrastructure underpinning artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Amazon has invested more than $20 billion in North Carolina since 2010, creating over 26,000 jobs, and announced plans last year to invest an additional $10 billion in the state for cloud computing infrastructure. AWS CEO Matt Garman said the partnership "channels investment into American manufacturing" and creates "long-term careers and real opportunity in the communities where we operate."
As part of the deal, Amazon will work with Corning to expand its Fiber Optic Technician Training Program at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory, providing hands-on education for careers in fiber optic manufacturing and fusion splicing. The program aims to increase the talent pool for technical roles while supporting residential and commercial fiber densification efforts across the region.
Corning's North Carolina manufacturing footprint spans Concord, Winston-Salem, Wilmington, Hickory and Newton. The company previously expanded in Catawba County in 2021 with a $150 million investment creating 200 jobs. Corning Optical, a division of New York-based Corning Inc., is headquartered in Charlotte's Riverbend Village.
The deal comes as data center construction faces growing scrutiny across the Charlotte region. Leaders from Charlotte to York County are actively considering moratoriums on new data center projects, with residents raising concerns about water usage, energy consumption and infrastructure strain. The rise of AI has accelerated demand for massive data centers, making fiber optic connectivity — the physical layer that moves data between servers and to end users — a critical bottleneck in the buildout.
For Corning, the Amazon and Meta deals represent a transformation of its optical business. The company's fiber optic cable and connectivity products are essential to the hyperscaler buildout, and the two agreements together could add billions in revenue over their multiyear terms. Amazon did not disclose the total value or length of the agreement, nor the specific state incentives that may have factored into the deal.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
