I N T E L L I G E N T T E C H N O L O G Y CONNECTIVITY
Corning and Meta announce multiyear agreement to accelerate US data centre buildout
Corning Incorporated and Meta Platforms announced a multiyear, up to US $ 6 billion agreement to accelerate the buildout of the most advanced data centres in the United States to support Meta’ s apps, technologies and AI ambitions. Under the agreement, Corning will supply Meta with its newest innovations in optical fibre, cable and connectivity solutions. To support this, Corning will expand manufacturing capabilities across its operations in North Carolina – including a significant capacity expansion at its optical cable manufacturing facility in Hickory where Meta will serve as the anchor customer.
“ This long-term partnership with Meta reflects Corning’ s commitment to develop, innovate and manufacture the critical technologies that power next generation data centres here in the US,” said Wendell P. Weeks, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, 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 % 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 fibre and cable manufacturing facilities. Together with Meta, we’ re strengthening domestic supply chains and helping ensure that advanced data centres are built using US innovation and advanced manufacturing.” collaboration will help create good-paying, skilled US jobs, strengthen local economies and help secure the US lead in the global AI race.”
Key elements of the agreement:
• Multiyear, up to US $ 6 billion commitment.
• Corning to supply latest generation optical fibre, cable and connectivity products designed to meet the density and scale demands of advanced AI data centres.
• New optical cable manufacturing facility in Hickory, North Carolina, in addition to expanded production capacity across Corning’ s North Carolina operations.
• Agreement supports Corning’ s projected employment growth in North Carolina by 15 to 20 %, sustaining a skilled workforce of more than 5,000 employees in the state, including thousands of jobs tied to two of the world’ s largest optical fibre and cable manufacturing facilities. �
Meta is expanding its commitment to build industry leading data centres in the US and to source advanced technology made domestically.
“ Building the most advanced data centres in the US requires world-class partners and American manufacturing,” said Joel Kaplan, Chief Global Affairs Officer at Meta.“ We’ re proud to partner with Corning – a company with deep expertise in optical connectivity and commitment to domestic manufacturing – for the highperformance fibre optic cables our AI infrastructure needs. This
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