SK Telecom announced a bold AI infrastructure strategy at the SK AI Summit 2024, where CEO Ryu Young-sang detailed plans for an “AI Infrastructure Superhighway” to position South Korea as an AI hub in the Asia-Pacific region. The strategy is built around three pillars: AI Data Centers (AIDCs), GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS), and Edge AI, with an initial testbed for AIDC launching in Pangyo, South Korea, in December. This infrastructure aims to drive SK Telecom’s AI expansion both domestically and internationally, supported by collaborations with global and Korean technology partners.
The company plans to build large-scale AI Data Centers in South Korea, starting with facilities requiring over 100 megawatts (MW), with long-term targets of reaching gigawatt (GW) scale. These centers will incorporate SK Group’s technologies, such as high-efficiency semiconductors and advanced cooling methods, and will rely on renewable energy sources like hydrogen, solar, and wind. In partnership with Lambda, SK Telecom will also introduce a cloud-based GPUaaS in December, addressing the domestic GPU shortage and offering enterprises flexible, cost-effective AI development resources powered by NVIDIA H100 and H200 GPUs.
SK Telecom’s Edge AI initiative leverages its nationwide communication infrastructure to reduce latency, enhance security, and improve privacy for AI applications. Through Edge AI, SK Telecom plans to bring AI capabilities closer to end-users and support applications across healthcare, robotics, and security. CEO Ryu emphasized the shift toward AI-integrated networks, stating, “The upcoming 6G will evolve into a next-generation AI infrastructure where communication and AI are integrated.”
• Core Components: AIDCs, GPUaaS, Edge AI
• AIDC Testbed Launch: December 2024, Pangyo, South Korea
• Partnerships: Lambda for GPUaaS, NVIDIA H100/H200 GPUs
• Energy Sources: Hydrogen, solar, and wind for data centers
• Edge AI Applications: Healthcare, AI robotics, AI CCTV
• 6G Vision: Integrated AI-communication network
This infrastructure will support SK Telecom’s goal of becoming an AI hub in the Asia-Pacific region, with an initial AIDC testbed launching in Pangyo, South Korea, by December.
“The upcoming 6G will evolve into a next-generation AI infrastructure where communication and AI are integrated,” said SK Telecom CEO Ryu Young-sang.
