Meta Inks $6B Fiber Optic Deal with Corning for US Data Centers

Why It Matters

By locking in domestic fiber supply, Meta reduces reliance on overseas vendors and accelerates its AI‑driven data‑center rollout, while bolstering U.S. manufacturing jobs and competitive edge in the AI race.

Key Takeaways

• Meta signs $6B fiber deal with Corning.
• Deal secures US‑based high‑density optical supply.
• Supports Meta’s $600B AI data‑center buildout.
• Expands Corning’s NC workforce by up to 20%.
• Pressures hyperscalers toward domestic manufacturing.

Pulse Analysis

The surge in artificial‑intelligence workloads has turned high‑bandwidth fiber optics into a strategic commodity, and Meta’s latest $6 billion contract with Corning reflects that shift. By securing a long‑term source of next‑generation, high‑density fiber, the company sidesteps the bottlenecks that have slowed rivals’ expansion in recent months. The agreement also expands Corning’s production footprint in Hickory and Durham, North Carolina, where the firm will add roughly 1,000 staff to meet the projected demand. This domestic sourcing aligns with broader U.S. policy goals to localize critical tech supply chains.

Meta’s AI roadmap, earmarked at $600 billion, hinges on a network of hyperscale data centers capable of supporting massive GPU clusters for generative‑AI services. The fiber deal directly fuels projects such as the 1 GW Prometheus facility in Ohio and the 5 GW Hyperion site in Louisiana, ensuring the necessary low‑latency, high‑throughput connectivity. Analysts note that the partnership elevates Meta from a component consumer to a supply‑chain architect, giving it greater control over network latency and energy efficiency. Competitors will likely feel pressure to lock in similar domestic agreements to stay competitive.

For Corning, Meta becomes an anchor customer that guarantees volume and justifies a 20 % workforce increase in North Carolina, reinforcing the company’s position as a leading U.S. fiber supplier. The deal also creates a defensive moat against foreign optics manufacturers seeking market share among hyperscalers. Industry observers see this as a bellwether for a broader trend: tech giants are betting on home‑grown manufacturing to mitigate geopolitical risk and meet sustainability targets. As AI workloads continue to climb, the demand for domestically produced, high‑capacity fiber is set to become a decisive factor in the next wave of data‑center competition.

Meta Inks $6B Fiber Optic Deal with Corning for US Data Centers

Shane Snider, Senior News Writer, Data Center Knowledge · January 27, 2026

4 Min Read

Meta Platforms has unveiled a $6 billion multi‑year fiber‑optic supply agreement with glassmaker Corning to accelerate the expansion of the Facebook parent company’s US data‑center infrastructure.

Under the agreement, Corning will supply Meta with optical fiber, cable, and connectivity solutions and ramp up manufacturing to meet demand. Corning said it will increase capacity at its Hickory, North Carolina, facility, where Meta will serve as an anchor customer. The company, which employs 5,000 people, will add up to 20 % more workers in the state, including scientists, engineers, and production teams at manufacturing sites in Hickory and Durham. Those sites are among the largest manufacturing sites for optical fiber and cable in the world.

“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,” Corning CEO Wendell Weeks said in a statement.

Ron Westfall, vice president and analyst at HyperFrame Research, said the deal marks a milestone in the US data‑center landscape. “The partnership advances Meta from a mere consumer of components into a strategic architect of the domestic supply chain, ensuring that it is not throttled by the fiber shortages that have recently delayed competitors' expansions,” Westfall told Data Center Knowledge.

“By anchoring Corning's North Carolina production, Meta secures exclusive access to next‑generation, high‑density optical solutions that are essential for the massive Meta Compute GPU clusters driving the company's generative AI objectives.”

Meta’s Massive Data Center Plans

Meta currently has 26 data centers planned or under construction in the US as part of its $600 billion AI strategy unveiled last year. Those include two behemoth projects – the 1 GW Prometheus site in New Albany, Ohio, and the 5 GW Hyperion site in Richland Parish, Louisiana. Both sites will include Corning fiber optics under the deal.

“Building the most advanced data centers in the US requires world‑class partners and American manufacturing,” Joel Kaplan, chief global affairs officer at Meta, said in a statement. “This collaboration will help create good‑paying, skilled US jobs, strengthen local economies, and help secure the US lead in the global AI race.”

In an interview with CNBC, Corning’s Weeks said Meta had agreed to pay for optical fiber through 2030. The deal comes on the heels of the “Meta Compute” initiative, which promises a continued AI infrastructure build‑out and will oversee the company’s global fleet of data centers and supplier partnerships.

“Meta is planning to build tens of gigawatts this decade, and hundreds of gigawatts or more over time,” Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a post on Threads.

HyperFrame’s Westfall said the Corning deal helps anchor that ambitious plan.

“Over the next year, this vertical integration reinforces Meta's influence by boosting domestic‑first infrastructure goals, pressuring other hyperscalers to demonstrate commitment to similar massive, long‑term US manufacturing deals,” Westfall said.

Corning, Meta Bet Big on AI Infrastructure

Based in a small Western New York town, Corning is known for being the first producer of Thomas Edison’s light bulbs and for its prolific glassware production. But the company has matured into a high‑stakes technology supplier, developing high‑tech screens for Apple and others, and becoming one of the world’s top producers of fiber optics. The company employs more than 56,000 people globally.

AI has been a significant source of revenue for Corning as tech companies race to connect data centers. In its optical communications business, Corning reported third‑quarter revenue of $1.65 billion, up 33 %. Enterprise sales of optical communications rose 58 % in the same quarter, according to the company’s earnings release.

“By securing Meta as an anchor customer, Corning gains the assured volume needed to expand its North Carolina manufacturing base,” Westfall said. “As a result, this partnership stimulates Corning's ecosystem influence, as their domestic‑first manufacturing strategy helps create a moat that makes it increasingly difficult for rivals, including international competitors, to challenge their position in the specialized, high‑bandwidth optics required by US hyperscalers.”

In a LinkedIn post, Max Zhang, consultant and CEO at CTOL Digital Solutions, said Corning’s deal with Meta “signals a pivotal shift in the AI landscape.”

“Forget the focus on shiny GPUs,” Zhang wrote. “It’s all about the backbone of infrastructure now – fiber optics. As AI evolves, its demands are less about raw processing power and more about seamless connectivity. This deal not only boosts Meta’s capabilities, but ties into a larger narrative: domestic manufacturing as a cornerstone of national tech competitiveness.”

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About the Author

Shane Snider – Senior News Writer, Data Center Knowledge

Shane Snider is a veteran journalist with more than 20 years of industry experience. He started his career as a general‑assignment reporter and has covered government, business, education, technology and much more. He was a reporter for the Triangle Business Journal, Raleigh News and Observer and most recently a tech reporter for CRN. He was also a top wedding photographer for many years, traveling across the country and around the world. He lives in Raleigh with his wife and two children.