Amazon has signed a multibillion-dollar agreement with fiber-optics manufacturer Corning in an infrastructure deal intended to support the e-commerce giant’s data center expansion in the U.S.
The deal, made public on June 8, will span several years and is expected to generate 1,000 jobs at Corning’s North Carolina facilities.
Corning will supply the optical fiber, cables, and connectivity systems needed to enable rapid data sharing across racks and chips in data centers.
The deal is framed as a boost to U.S. AI supply chains, aligning with the White House’s AI action plan that puts bolstering domestic production at the heart of AI strategy.
“Amazon’s data centers power the services millions of people and businesses rely on every day,” the companies said in a release. “Corning’s fiber optics are a critical piece of that infrastructure, and together, these investments help fuel the U.S. economic engine.”
AWS CEO Matt Garman said in the release that the company is also working to train North Carolinians for highly skilled roles in fiber optics and fusion splicing.
“These long-term investments create long-term careers and real opportunity in the communities where we operate,” he said.
The latest agreement builds on Amazon’s previous commitment of $10B to expand cloud computing infrastructure in North Carolina.
The development also adds to growing industry interest in the glass and fiber optics industry. In May, Nvidia invested $3.2B in Corning, as part of a deal that will see the fiber-optics company build three new advanced manufacturing plants in North Carolina and Texas for the AI chipmaker.
Meta also invested in Corning earlier this year, with the social media giant saying it would spend $6B to help build out Corning’s optical cable plant in Hickory, North Carolina.
