Hickory, North Carolina — January 27, 2026 — Leads & Copy — Corning Incorporated and Meta Platforms, Inc. have announced a multiyear agreement, valued at up to $6 billion, to enhance data center construction in the United States, supporting Meta’s apps, technologies, and AI initiatives.
Under the agreement, Corning will provide Meta with its latest optical fiber, cable, and connectivity solutions. Corning will expand its manufacturing capabilities in North Carolina, with a significant expansion planned for its optical cable manufacturing facility in Hickory, where Meta will be the primary customer.
Wendell P. Weeks, Chairman and CEO of Corning Incorporated, stated that the partnership with Meta demonstrates Corning’s dedication to developing and manufacturing technologies for next-generation data centers in the U.S. The investment will broaden Corning’s manufacturing presence in North Carolina, increase employment in the state by 15 to 20 percent, and sustain a skilled workforce of over 5,000, including scientists, engineers, and production teams at two of the world’s largest optical fiber and cable manufacturing facilities. He added that together with Meta, Corning is strengthening domestic supply chains and ensuring advanced data centers are built using U.S. innovation and manufacturing.
Meta is increasing its commitment to building advanced data centers in the U.S. and sourcing domestically made technology.
Joel Kaplan, Chief Global Affairs Officer at Meta, noted that constructing advanced data centers in the U.S. requires strong partnerships and American manufacturing. Meta is partnering with Corning for its expertise in optical connectivity and its commitment to domestic manufacturing, which is needed for the high-performance fiber optic cables required by its AI infrastructure. Kaplan said this collaboration will create U.S. jobs, strengthen local economies, and help the U.S. maintain its lead in AI.
Key aspects of the agreement include:
– A multiyear commitment of up to $6 billion.
– Corning supplying next-generation optical fiber, cable, and connectivity products designed for the density and scale of advanced AI data centers.
– A new optical cable manufacturing facility in Hickory, North Carolina, along with expanded production capacity across Corning’s North Carolina operations.
– The agreement supports Corning’s anticipated employment growth in North Carolina by 15 to 20 percent, sustaining a workforce of over 5,000 employees in the state.
Source: Corning Incorporated
