Meta to spend up to $6 billion on U.S.-made fiber for data center buildout
(UI) — Meta has entered into a multi-year agreement valued at up to $6 billion with Corning to supply fiber optic cable for Meta’s expanding U.S. data center network, a move expected to boost domestic manufacturing and increase employment at Corning’s North Carolina operations.
Under the agreement, Corning will provide fiber optic cable used to support high-capacity data center connectivity as Meta continues to scale infrastructure needed for artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital platforms. The deal is expected to support a 15% to 20% increase in jobs at Corning’s facilities in North Carolina.
“Building the most advanced data centers in the US requires world-class partners and American manufacturing. We’re proud to partner with Corning — a company with deep expertise in optical connectivity and commitment to domestic manufacturing — for the high-performance fiber optic cables our AI infrastructure needs. This collaboration will help create good-paying, skilled U.S. jobs, strengthen local economies, and help secure the US lead in the global AI race,” said Joel Kaplan, Chief Global Affairs Officer at Meta.
Corning said the agreement will drive expanded manufacturing capacity, including a significant buildout at its Trivium Corporate Center in Catawba County, North Carolina. The company currently operates two of the world’s largest optical fiber and cable manufacturing facilities in the state.
“This long-term partnership with Meta reflects Corning’s commitment to develop, innovate, and manufacture the critical technologies that power next generation data centers here in the US,” said Wendell P. Weeks, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Corning Incorporated. “The investment will expand our manufacturing footprint in North Carolina, support an increase in Corning’s employment levels in the state by 15 to 20 percent, and help sustain a highly skilled workforce of more than 5,000, including the scientists, engineers, and production teams at two of the world’s largest optical fiber and cable manufacturing facilities. Together with Meta, we’re strengthening domestic supply chains and helping ensure that advanced data centers are built using US innovation and advanced manufacturing.”
Meta currently has 26 data centers under construction or in operation across the United States. The company said its U.S. data center development has supported approximately 30,000 skilled trade jobs during construction and employs about 5,000 workers in ongoing operations, including electricians, HVAC specialists, network technicians and engineers.
As demand for AI computing and high-capacity digital infrastructure continues to grow, Meta said fiber connectivity will remain critical to supporting data centers that serve applications across healthcare, finance, agriculture and other sectors.
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