Amazon Deal Helps Corning Expand Fiber-Optics Manufacturing in North Carolina, Creating 1,000 Jobs

Amazon said on Monday it has signed a multiyear, multibillion-dollar agreement with Corning to supply optical fiber, cable, and connectivity solutions for its expanding U.S. data center infrastructure. Optical fiber is the thin glass strand technology that carries high-speed data as light, and it is a core component of the network equipment that powers cloud services and other large-scale computing workloads.

The companies said the investment is expected to create 1,000 advanced manufacturing jobs at Corning’s manufacturing facilities across North Carolina. They also said the expansion will support hundreds of additional construction jobs tied to the buildout of Corning’s North Carolina operations. Amazon and Corning did not disclose a specific dollar figure for the agreement or identify which Corning sites will host the new hires.

Amazon also said it will work with Corning on a new program to expand Corning’s Fiber Optic Technician Training Program with Catawba Valley Community College. The program is intended to train students for careers in fiber optic manufacturing and related technical roles, according to the companies. Corning’s release and Amazon’s announcement frame the effort as a pipeline to skilled labor for fiber production and installation work, including tasks such as fusion splicing, the process of joining fiber ends by fusing them together to create a continuous connection.

In language tied to workforce development, Amazon also pointed to its broader presence in North Carolina, saying it has invested more than $20 billion in the state since 2010 and created over 26,000 jobs across areas including cloud infrastructure and logistics. The Corning release said the Amazon-Corning deal is in addition to Amazon’s previously announced plan to invest $10 billion in North Carolina to expand cloud computing infrastructure.

Corning, meanwhile, said the agreement represents a milestone for the company and U.S. manufacturing. Wendell Weeks, Corning’s chairman, CEO, and president, characterized the investment as enabling production expansion and “1,000 new advanced manufacturing jobs” at Corning facilities near Amazon data centers. Amazon also quoted AWS CEO Matt Garman, who said the partnership includes training North Carolinians for roles in fiber optics and fusion splicing.

The market response reflected investor interest in the fiber supply chain. Reuters reported that shares of Corning rose about 7% in early trading after the announcement, citing the partnership as a boost to Corning’s fast-growing fiber optics unit, even as weak consumer electronics demand has weighed on Corning’s Gorilla Glass business.

What remains unclear is how quickly the manufacturing expansions ramp and how the supply agreement will be sized over time. The companies did not provide a specific contract value, production capacity targets, or a detailed timeline in their public releases. Observers will likely watch for follow-up disclosures from Corning on capex and hiring plans, as well as any additional guidance from Amazon about future data center buildout and procurement commitments tied to fiber and connectivity equipment.