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Amazon announced a multi-billion dollar agreement with Corning to provide fiber optics, cables, and networking solutions to support the rapid expansion of Amazon’s data centers as demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence services increases.
Amazon said the new investment will help create about 1,000 new jobs within Corning’s North Carolina factories, in addition to hundreds of other jobs related to the construction and expansion work needed to increase the company’s production capacity.
The two companies also plan to launch a joint program to train and qualify students to work in the field of optical fiber manufacturing and related technical jobs, in a move aimed at supporting the specialized workforce required for future digital infrastructure projects.
This agreement is part of Amazon’s broader strategy to expand its cloud capabilities, after it announced last year a plan to invest $10 billion in North Carolina to develop and expand its cloud computing infrastructure.
The agreement reflects the growing demand for Corning products amid the global race to build the computing power needed to run artificial intelligence applications. Earlier this year, the company signed a long-term agreement with Meta worth up to $6 billion to supply fiber optic cables.
The announcement boosted optimism about Corning’s business, with the company’s stock rising more than 9% in pre-market trading, while the stock had already made gains of more than 100% since the beginning of the year, driven by strong demand for connectivity solutions and infrastructure needed to support the global artificial intelligence boom.
