SK Telecom unveils ambitious plan to transform South Korea into a central hub for AI data infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific, backed by significant investments and advanced technology initiatives.
South Korea Poised to Become Asia-Pacific’s AI Powerhouse
In a bold move to cement South Korea’s position at the forefront of artificial intelligence technology, SK Telecom, a prominent entity in South Korea’s tech sector and a key member of the SK Group, has announced a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming the country into a central hub for AI data infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region. This ambitious vision was unveiled by SK Telecom CEO Ryu Young-sang during the recent SK AI Summit held in Seoul.
Central to this ambitious project, termed the ‘AI Infrastructure Superhighway’ initiative, is the development of a large-scale AI data centre. The facility will initially demand more than 100 megawatts of electrical power and is expected to expand its capacity to a gigawatt. This development highlights SK Telecom’s resolute dedication to pioneering advanced AI infrastructure.
The upcoming launch of a testing site in Pangyo, a tech-centric district located south of Seoul, signals the start of this tech evolution. Scheduled for next month, the testing site will employ Nvidia’s state-of-the-art chips and AI technologies, illustrating SK Telecom’s commitment to integrating leading technology into its infrastructure.
CEO Ryu Young-sang articulated SK Telecom’s aspirations to secure South Korea’s position among the world’s top three AI leaders. This strategic vision encompasses creating a comprehensive ecosystem, integrating high-performance data centres, Graphics Processing Units as a Service (GPUaaS), and edge AI solutions. By December, SK Telecom’s facility in western Seoul will undergo a complete transformation into an AI-dedicated data centre, developed in partnership with global cloud provider Lambda. This facility will be pivotal in offering cloud-based GPUaaS, designed specifically for the sustainability and scalability of AI applications.
Further underlining its commitment to advancing AI technology, SK Telecom announced an investment of 100 billion won (approximately $72.9 million) from the next year. This funding aims towards creating a “sovereign AI” system, customised to meet South Korea’s specific market requirements. In parallel, the company is exploring advancements in edge AI technologies, which integrate telecom capabilities with AI computations to enhance network efficiency—this innovation is anticipated to support the future development of sixth-generation (6G) networks.
Through these strategic initiatives, SK Telecom is actively working towards establishing South Korea as a leading AI hub in the Asia-Pacific region. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and extensive infrastructure investments, the company is positioning the nation to play a pivotal role in the evolving landscape of AI.
Source: Noah Wire Services
More on this & sources
- https://www.capacitymedia.com/article/sk-telecom-bets-big-on-ai – Corroborates SK Telecom’s plan to build an ‘AI infrastructure superhighway’ and the launch of an AI data centre testbed in Pangyo, Korea.
- https://www.telecomtv.com/content/telcos-and-ai-channel/skt-unveils-ai-infrastructure-superhighway-plan-51680/ – Details SK Telecom’s AI strategy, including the development of AI data centers, GPUaaS, and edge AI infrastructure.
- https://www.sktelecom.com/en/press/press_detail.do?idx=1622¤tPage=1&type= – Provides information on SK Telecom’s plan to create a world-class ‘AI Infrastructure’ and the launch of an AI data center testbed in Pangyo.
- https://www.koreaittimes.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=135752 – Outlines SK Telecom’s initiative to build an ‘AI Infrastructure Super Highway’ and its focus on AI data centers, GPUaaS, and edge AI.
- https://news.sktelecom.com/en/1606 – Explains SK Telecom’s plan to build gigawatt-scale AI data centers and introduce ‘Edge AI’ using nationwide communication infrastructure.
- https://www.capacitymedia.com/article/sk-telecom-bets-big-on-ai – Mentions the partnership with Lambda for GPUaaS and the use of Nvidia H100 and H200 GPUs in the AI data centers.
- https://www.telecomtv.com/content/telcos-and-ai-channel/skt-unveils-ai-infrastructure-superhighway-plan-51680/ – Details the use of renewable energy sources such as hydrogen, solar, and wind power for the AI data centers.
- https://www.sktelecom.com/en/press/press_detail.do?idx=1622¤tPage=1&type= – Corroborates the investment in ‘Korean Sovereign AI’ and the integration of high-performance data centers, GPUaaS, and edge AI solutions.
- https://www.koreaittimes.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=135752 – Explains the role of edge AI in enhancing network efficiency and supporting the development of 6G networks.
- https://news.sktelecom.com/en/1606 – Details SK Telecom’s aim to lead the global standardization of Edge AI and collaborate on advanced technology research.
- https://www.capacitymedia.com/article/sk-telecom-bets-big-on-ai – Mentions the long-term economic and job creation impacts expected from SK Telecom’s AI infrastructure initiatives.
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