Corning Incorporated and Meta Platforms Inc. marked the start of construction on a significant expansion of Corning?s optical cable manufacturing capacity in Hickory, North Carolina, reinforcing their collaboration to support the buildout of advanced AI data centers using technology developed and manufactured in the United States. The groundbreaking marks a milestone in the multiyear, up to $6 billion agreement between Corning and Meta to accelerate the deployment of the most advanced data centers in the U.S. and to support Meta?s apps, technologies, and AI objectives. Under the agreement, which was announced in January of this year, Corning will supply Meta with its newest innovations in optical fiber, cable, and connectivity solutions.
Meta will serve as the anchor customer for the Hickory expansion, which will produce optical cable critical to AI infrastructure. Corning, which currently employs more than 5,000 people in North Carolina, will expand manufacturing capabilities across the state to support the agreement with Meta. The expansion could increase Corning?s employment levels in the state by 15 to 20 percent, reinforcing North Carolina?s role as a manufacturing hub for optical fiber and cable.
