Corning Meta Optical Cable Plant Strengthens AI Data Centre Supply Chain

Corning

Corning Meta optical cable plant construction has started in Hickory, North Carolina, as Corning moves to support Meta’s growing artificial intelligence data centre network. The project is expected to become the world’s largest fibre optic cable manufacturing facility.

The plant forms part of Corning’s $6bn multi-year agreement with Meta, signed in January. Under the deal, Corning will supply next-generation optical fibre, cable and connectivity products for Meta’s expanding data centre infrastructure.

Corning Meta optical cable plant development matters because AI workloads are increasing demand for high-speed, low-latency optical communication systems. As AI clusters grow larger, fibre optic connectivity becomes a critical infrastructure layer alongside chips, power, cooling and storage.

AI Data Centres Drive Optical Fibre Demand

Meta’s fibre connectivity requirements are rising as the company operates or builds 26 data centres across the US. These facilities support the rapid expansion of AI computing capacity, which requires dense and reliable optical networks.

Corning’s optical communications business is already benefiting from this demand. Net sales in the segment rose by 35% year on year in the fourth quarter, driven by stronger AI data centre demand, while total company sales increased by 14% to $4.41bn.

The Corning Meta optical cable plant therefore reflects a wider shift in digital infrastructure. Data centre growth is no longer only a semiconductor story; it is also becoming a materials, glass, cable and connectivity supply chain story.

Germanium Supply Becomes Strategic for Fibre Optic Expansion

Fibre optic cable production has direct implications for germanium demand. Germanium tetrachloride is used to increase the refractive index of the silica glass core in fibre optic cables, making it essential for high-performance optical communication.

Optical communication is the largest downstream consumer of germanium in the US. That makes AI data centre expansion increasingly relevant to minor metals markets, especially as fibre deployment accelerates.

Supply risk remains a key concern. China imposed export controls on germanium metal and other germanium products in August 2023, citing military technology concerns. China accounts for about 60-70% of global germanium output, while its exports of germanium and fabricated products fell sharply to 11,316kg in 2025 from 25,273kg in 2024.

Chinese germanium exports remained weak early this year, with January shipments down 95% on the year and February shipments also lower. This creates a strategic tension: AI infrastructure is increasing optical fibre demand, while germanium availability remains constrained by export controls.

The Metalnomist Commentary

The Corning-Meta project shows that AI infrastructure is pushing demand deeper into specialty materials supply chains. Germanium may be a small-volume metal, but its role in optical fibre makes it strategically important as data centres scale.