Amazon’s agreement with Corning highlights data center fiber demands
Key Highlights
- The agreement between Amazon and Corning will create 1,000 new manufacturing jobs and support hundreds of construction roles in North Carolina.
- Amazon is investing $10 billion in North Carolina to expand its cloud infrastructure, reinforcing the state’s role as a key data center hub.
- The partnership emphasizes workforce development through fiber optic technician training programs at Catawba Valley Community College.
- North Carolina has seen a 15-fold increase in data center construction, with over $3 billion injected into the economy in a single year.
- Corning’s expansion plans include a $170-$267.9 million investment in its Hickory plant, supported by economic development agreements.
Amazon struck a multibillion-dollar agreement with Corning to supply optical fiber, cable, and connectivity solutions to accommodate its expanding data center infrastructure across the United States.
The investment will create 1,000 new jobs at Corning's manufacturing facilities across North Carolina, and support hundreds of additional construction jobs to expand Corning’s facilities.
Amazon's investment in North Carolina has created more than 26,000 jobs across the state.
“This multibillion-dollar agreement with Corning continues that commitment, channeling investment into American manufacturing and creating 1,000 new jobs at their facilities near our data centers," said Matt Garman, CEO of AWS.
Technical career pathways
Beyond providing the fiber cabling needed to accommodate growing data center needs, the agreement places a strong focus on job creation and career training in the fiber industry.
Like the agreement Corning entered into with Meta, working with Amazon highlights the importance of injecting more energy into the labor market. The December 2025 U.S. jobs report revealed a sluggish labor market, with only 50,000 jobs added and a 4.4% unemployment rate.
Under the agreement, Amazon will work with Corning on a new program to expand its Fiber Optic Technician Training Program at Catawba Valley Community College, training students for careers in fiber-optic manufacturing and related technical roles.
Students who participate in the program can access hands-on education and courses that expand the talent pool and offer pathways to high-paying technical roles.
Amazon and Corning said the efforts will help strengthen the domestic supply chain and U.S. manufacturing base while serving the region and state by expanding residential and commercial fiber densification.
For more on Corning:
- Corning inks $6B fiber data center deal with Meta
- Corning’s Q1 $1.8B optical sales get boosted from Gen AI
- Corning’s CEO says there’s enough fiber in the world to meet demand
- Corning sees growth opportunities in the hyperscaler data center’s scale-up segment
- Corning’s CEO: Data Center Interconnection will be a $1B opportunity
Targeting North Carolina
North Carolina has emerged as a key target for new data centers, with Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft among many hyperscalers that have launched large-scale projects in the state.
Data center construction space across Charlotte and Raleigh increased 15-fold, according to a CBRE report, with over $3 billion injected into the state's economy in a single year.
Amazon’s agreement with Corning complements Amazon’s plans to invest $10 billion in North Carolina to expand its cloud computing infrastructure.
North Carolina has been a key target market for Amazon. Since 2010, Amazon has invested $20 billion in the state, creating over 26,000 jobs spanning logistics, cloud infrastructure, and renewable energy.
U.S. Senator Ted Budd praised the agreement for creating over 1,000 jobs in the state, “while also strengthening the critical infrastructure of the U.S. supply chain.”
Amazon’s long-term commitment to North Carolina offers benefits beyond direct investments and jobs created in the state. Through workforce development, Career Choice, and upskilling programs, Amazon has already provided practical training to nearly 7,000 people in North Carolina, helping open new pathways to higher-paying jobs and fulfilling careers.
Amazon is hardly alone in its desire to enhance its data center and overall presence in North Carolina.
In January, Corning secured a multiyear agreement with Meta worth up to $6 billion to accelerate the company’s U.S. data center reach, further solidifying the fiber manufacturer’s presence in the growing data center segment.
The investment will expand its manufacturing footprint in North Carolina and support an increase in Corning’s employment in the state by 15 to 20 percent.
North Carolina has been a key investment target for Corning.
In October 2025, Corning announced that it would invest between $170 million and $267.9 million to expand its Hickory, North Carolina, plant. As part of the agreement with Hickory, Corning is receiving a 33-acre lot at no cost under an economic development agreement with the city and county.
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About the Author
Sean Buckley
Sean is responsible for establishing and executing the editorial strategy of Lightwave across its website, email newsletters, events, and other information products.
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