Amazon has signed a multi-billion-dollar partnership with specialty glass maker Corning to boost US production of optical fiber and connectivity products used in artificial intelligence data centres.
The multi-year partnership will create 1,000 jobs at Corning's North Carolina facilities, the companies announced on Monday. Amazon did not disclose the exact financial terms of the deal.
Corning shares rose approximately 7 per cent in early trading following the announcement. The partnership boosts the company's fast-growing fiber optics unit at a time when weak consumer electronics demand has weighed on its Gorilla glass segment.
Corning's optical fiber products are used to move data between thousands of processors in AI data centres. The company has previously announced plans to increase US-based optical connectivity manufacturing capacity tenfold and expand domestic fiber production capacity by more than 50 per cent.
Last month, Corning also signed a partnership with NVIDIA to expand US manufacturing of fiber optics, signalling growing demand for high-speed data transfer infrastructure driven by the AI boom.
The partnership with Amazon includes a new initiative to expand Corning's fiber optic technician training programme with the Catawba Valley Community College in North Carolina, aimed at training students for roles in the facilities.
The deal comes as major technology companies accelerate investment in AI infrastructure. Data centres require substantial fiber optic connectivity to support the processing demands of large language models and cloud computing services.
The partnership positions Corning as a key supplier in the AI infrastructure supply chain, following its recent deal with NVIDIA and its announced capacity expansion plans.
