Catawba County, North Carolina has developed a nationally significant communications technology manufacturing cluster centered on fiber-optic infrastructure and broadband connectivity. The region is home to global industry leaders including CommScope in Claremont and Catawba; Corning Optical Communications, which operates major fiber-optic cable manufacturing facilities in Hickory and Newton; and Prysmian, the world’s largest cable manufacturer, with a major fiber-optic production facility in Claremont. Together, these companies manufacture critical infrastructure used in broadband networks, hyperscale data centers, enterprise connectivity, and next-generation wireless systems. The Hickory–Catawba region has become one of the most important fiber manufacturing hubs in the world, with an estimated 40% of the world’s fiber-optic cable produced in the area.

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Supporting these anchor manufacturers is a network of specialized suppliers and technology companies, including firms such as US Conec, Fiber-Line/Avient, Unigel, Unitape, and other component, materials, and connectivity manufacturers that supply fiber connectors, reinforcement materials, and cable assemblies used throughout the telecommunications industry. This ecosystem creates a complete supply chain for communications technology manufacturing within a compact region. Catawba County is also the center of North Carolina’s Data Center Corridor, with major hyperscale facilities operated by Apple and Microsoft located in the county. These investments further strengthen the region’s role in the digital infrastructure economy, connecting advanced manufacturing with the data centers and high-capacity networks that power cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and global data transmission.