Zayo has expanded its strategic supply agreement with Corning to secure a significant portion of the fiber optic cable it expects to need through the remainder of the decade as artificial intelligence infrastructure accelerates demand for new network capacity. The agreement is designed to give Zayo greater supply certainty as it executes one of the largest network expansions in its history.
Zayo plans to add 15,000 new route miles by 2030, including more than 8,000 miles of new long-haul fiber being developed in collaboration with NVIDIA.
The company is also adding capacity across existing corridors where AI infrastructure is concentrating.
Zayo said AI-driven demand is changing not only where network capacity needs to be built, but also how quickly that capacity must come online.
That shift is increasing pressure on physical inputs such as fiber optic cable, making long-term supply planning an increasingly important part of network expansion.
The expanded Corning relationship is intended to reduce the risk that cable availability delays planned construction.
By securing supply earlier in the planning cycle, Zayo expects more flexibility in determining where and when it deploys new infrastructure.
The agreement supports the company’s broader effort to build ahead of anticipated AI demand rather than waiting for capacity constraints to emerge.
Zayo has spent years modeling network demand and planning routes, capacity, and construction timing around expected customer requirements.
The company is now extending that planning deeper into the physical supply chain by securing the materials needed to convert projected demand into operating infrastructure.
Corning brings large-scale optical communications manufacturing capabilities and fiber technology to the relationship.
The companies said AI infrastructure is increasing both the amount and density of fiber connectivity needed across networks, requiring providers to deploy more capacity while maintaining scalability.
For Zayo, the relationship is especially important because long-haul network construction can require years of planning, permitting, procurement and execution.
Securing a significant portion of its expected fiber requirements removes one potential bottleneck as the company pursues its 2030 expansion target.
Zayo currently operates a network spanning approximately 32 million fiber miles and 224,000 route miles across North America, connecting more than 400 markets globally.
The company provides long-haul and metro fiber connectivity, tailored connectivity solutions and managed services to customers including carriers, cloud providers, data centers, enterprises, schools and governments.
The expanded Corning agreement further positions Zayo’s physical infrastructure strategy around growing AI workloads, where large data centers and compute clusters require increasingly dense and reliable network connectivity.
KEY QUOTES:
“AI infrastructure is changing where and how quickly network capacity needs to be built. We understand where demand is moving, and we’re putting the physical inputs in place now to build ahead of it. Deepening our relationship with Corning gives us greater confidence that material availability won’t stand between customer demand and the infrastructure required to deliver it.”
Steve Smith, CEO Of Zayo
“AI is driving a fundamental increase in the amount and density of fiber optic cable and connectivity required across the network. As networks evolve to meet those demands, providers need solutions that can accelerate deployment, increase capacity, and support long-term scalability. Our expanded relationship with Zayo brings together Corning’s industry-leading optical innovations with Zayo’s network expertise to help build the physical infrastructure required for AI at scale.”
Steve Mitchell, Senior Vice President At Corning Incorporated
“Anyone can draw a route on a map, but building it is a different story. Long-haul construction requires years of planning, permitting, materials, and disciplined execution. Our experience building networks at this scale allows us to anticipate and manage execution risks before they become constraints. Corning understands what it takes to support an expansion of this magnitude and the speed required to deliver it. Securing fiber optic cable supply through our expanded agreement takes one critical variable off the table as we execute our network expansion.”
Troy Lupe, Chief Network Officer Of Zayo
