NEW YORK, January 27, 2026, 10:22 (EST)
- Meta will pay Corning as much as $6 billion across multiple years for fiber-optic cables used in AI data centers
- Corning is set to boost production in North Carolina, with Meta signing on as the anchor buyer at the Hickory facility
- Corning shares rise during U.S. morning trading; both firms are set to report earnings on Wednesday
Meta Platforms will shell out as much as $6 billion to Corning over the coming years for fiber-optic cables and connectivity gear to support its AI data centers, the companies announced Tuesday. According to CNBC, the deal stretches through 2030. (Reuters)
This deal highlights the shift in AI development from just software to the physical infrastructure — cables, switches, power, and floor space. Fiber-optic cables, transmitting data as light, play a crucial role in quickly moving information within massive data centers.
This reads like a supply-chain move. Meta is pushing to secure capacity in the U.S. as tech companies increasingly focus on domestic sourcing and manufacturing—a trend that gained momentum under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Corning is boosting its manufacturing presence in North Carolina, including its optical cable plant in Hickory, where Meta will serve as the “anchor customer” — the major buyer driving the need for more capacity. CEO Wendell P. Weeks said this partnership will fuel the company’s efforts to “develop, innovate, and manufacture the critical technologies” powering next-gen data centers. He also highlighted plans to “strengthen domestic supply chains” while aiming for a 15% to 20% increase in local employment. (Corning)
Meta presented the deal as a key part of its plan to expand AI infrastructure domestically. Joel Kaplan, Meta’s chief global affairs officer, emphasized that building cutting-edge data centers “requires world-class partners and American manufacturing,” highlighting Corning’s “high-performance fiber optic cables” as essential for its AI systems. The company noted that 26 data centers are either active or being built across the U.S., supporting about 30,000 skilled trade jobs during construction and 5,000 ongoing operational roles. (Meta)
Corning’s stock jumped roughly 13% in U.S. morning trading, while Meta’s shares slipped about 0.8%.
Corning’s optical connectivity gear is turning into a choke point for major data centers that juggle data across expanding clusters of computers. Demand from heavyweights like Meta, Microsoft, and Alphabet’s Google fueled Corning’s shares to jump over 84% in 2025.
Meta is pouring money into data center infrastructure, pushing hard to launch AI products that can compete. The company also laid out plans to invest roughly $600 billion in U.S. tech infrastructure and job creation over the next three years. On top of that, it unveiled its “Meta Compute” initiative to manage its worldwide data center operations and supplier relationships.
The deal is capped at $6 billion, but the actual total hinges on how fast Meta ramps up construction and outfit of new facilities. Delays in AI infrastructure spending or hiccups in factory growth and supply chains—plus the usual tariff and trade risks manufacturers warn about—could shrink that figure below the headline amount.
Meta and Corning are set to release their quarterly earnings on Wednesday. Investors will be closely eyeing Meta’s capital expenditure plans and Corning’s order patterns to gauge the durability of data-center demand.
