Nvidia Partners with Corning to Expand Optical Data Transmission in U.S. Data Centers

• May 6, 2026

Nvidia has announced a strategic partnership with Corning to greatly expand the production of optical data transmission technologies in the United States. The move is designed to replace thousands of copper cables currently used in data centers with faster, more energy-efficient optical fiber solutions.

Significant Investment and Manufacturing Expansion

As part of this collaboration, Corning will establish three new manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and Texas. These plants will focus exclusively on the advancement and production of optical components tailored for data transmission applications. The expansion marks a tenfold increase in Corning’s domestic manufacturing capacity.

Nvidia is committing up to $2.7 billion toward this initiative. The investment is expected to create at least 3,000 new jobs, contributing to regional economic growth in both states. The switch from traditional copper wiring to optical fiber aims to improve data transfer speeds and reduce energy consumption across data center infrastructure.

Following the announcement, Corning’s stock value rose by approximately 10%, while Nvidia’s shares increased by over 4%. Analysts view this partnership as a significant step forward for high-speed data infrastructure.

The agreement underlines a broader industry trend favoring optical technologies over copper cables, particularly in large-scale data environments where speed and efficiency are critical. By focusing on domestic production, the companies also address supply chain challenges and support U.S.-based manufacturing.

This development is part of Nvidia’s broader strategy to enhance data center capabilities and energy sustainability while driving innovation in data transmission technologies.

Nvidia teams up with Corning to build new U.S. factories developing optical data technologies, aiming to replace copper cables in data centers.