South Korea is shifting to broaden its AI infrastructure base via a collection of tasks overlaying information centres, semiconductors, and robotics. SK Telecom plans to construct as much as 15GW of AI information centre capability.
The plan follows a set of South Korean “mega tasks” overlaying semiconductors, bodily AI, and AI information centres. Samsung Electronics, SK Group, and authorities ministries outlined the funding plans at an occasion on Monday, based on Reuters.
The tasks cowl a number of components of AI infrastructure. Samsung and SK Hynix are tied to semiconductor manufacturing, whereas SK, GS Group, Naver, and SK Telecom are linked to AI information centre growth. SKT has stated AI information centre infrastructure relies on semiconductors, vitality options, and information centre development and operations.
South Korea’s authorities stated SK, GS Group, and Naver plan to take a position about 550 trillion received in an preliminary section to construct a mixed 8.4GW of AI information centre capability. Development is focused to start by the primary half of 2028.
The nation’s science minister stated the entire funding might exceed 1,000 trillion received by round 2035. SK Telecom stated in a regulatory submitting that it’s contemplating funding constructions involving strategic companions, together with world expertise firms and abroad capital.
The 8.4GW determine refers back to the preliminary AI information centre capability deliberate by SK, GS Group, and Naver. SKT’s 15GW goal refers back to the telecoms firm’s longer-term AI information centre plan.
SKT outlines 15GW information centre plan
SKT stated its personal AI information centre mission might be developed in phases and linked to the federal government’s AI G3 technique, which SKT described as a aim of turning into one of many world’s three main AI powers alongside the US and China.
The corporate stated the mission will cowl website choice, energy provide, operations, and buyer demand. It is usually assessing how the buildout can assist the federal government’s regional growth objectives.
The primary section will construct on the AI information centre already beneath development in Ulsan. SKT plans to develop greater than 2GW of capability throughout the southeastern Gyeongsang area, with Ulsan serving as the bottom for the cluster.
The corporate additionally plans so as to add 1GW of capability within the southwestern Jeolla area. Collectively, these tasks would carry SKT’s home AI information centre capability to 5GW, with staged openings deliberate from 2029.
SKT stated the total buildout might finally attain 15GW. The corporate didn’t present an entire timeline for the remaining 10GW of deliberate capability.
Funding, energy, and cooling
In keeping with SKT, a typical 1GW-class AI information centre might require about KRW 70 trillion, as a result of the price of high-performance computing infrastructure and rising reminiscence costs.
SKT didn’t present a complete value estimate for the 15GW plan. The corporate offered the 1GW estimate as a reference for gigawatt-scale AI information centre development.
The corporate stated funding for its deliberate tasks is anticipated to return from a mixture of its personal funding, strategic companion funding, long-term buyer contracts, and mission financing.
SKT cited a worldwide information centre capability scarcity in its announcement. It referred to McKinsey & Firm forecasts that world information centre demand will develop 19% to 22% yearly, with provide unable to maintain tempo.
McKinsey has forecast that world information centre demand might attain 171GW to 219GW by 2030. SKT cited the forecast and stated the US alone might face a shortfall of about 15GW by 2030.
SKT stated South Korea has elements related to AI information centre growth, together with high-bandwidth reminiscence manufacturing, nuclear and liquefied pure gas-based energy provide, and expertise working large-scale semiconductor amenities.
The Worldwide Vitality Company’s Base Case tasks world information centre electrical energy consumption to double to round 945 TWh by 2030, with AI the principle driver alongside different digital providers.
Uptime Institute has stated operators face challenges delivering energy and cooling to very high-density cupboards. Its survey discovered that 29% of operators are upgrading present information corridor area to assist high-performance IT methods.
Chip investments assist the broader buildout
Reuters reported that Samsung plans to take a position 400 trillion received in new semiconductor fabs in Gwangju and 56 trillion received in superior high-bandwidth reminiscence fabs in Cheonan and Onyang.
Samsung additionally stated in a regulatory submitting that it plans to take a position 2,450 trillion received domestically between 2026 and 2040 to strengthen future development companies. Of that quantity, 2,100 trillion received is allotted to semiconductor clusters, together with Pyeongtaek and the Yongin industrial complicated.
SK Group stated it has long-term plans for semiconductor tasks value about 1,100 trillion received, and AI information centre tasks value about 1,000 trillion received. Chairman Chey Tae-won stated the group expects to take a position greater than 100 trillion received a yr on common in South Korea over the subsequent decade.
SK Hynix plans to finish the fourth fab at its Yongin semiconductor cluster by 2033, 12 years sooner than its earlier 2045 goal. The corporate additionally plans to take a position 400 trillion received in a brand new chip manufacturing base within the nation’s southwest, with execution staged based on market demand and board approvals.
SK Group’s associates are anticipated to assist the AI information centre mission throughout semiconductors, vitality, and information centre development and operations. SKT stated it is going to lead the design, development, and operation of the deliberate amenities.
SKT has introduced AI information centre tasks and partnerships with world expertise firms. At SK AI Summit 2025, President and CEO Jung Jai-hun outlined a roadmap that included scaling the Ulsan AI Information Heart to greater than 1GW.
The corporate has additionally introduced plans to function an “AI Manufacturing unit,” which it describes as a next-generation AI information centre. Operations are scheduled to start in 2027, with plans to broaden the ability to gigawatt scale.
Robotics included in nationwide AI plan
South Korea’s wider plan additionally covers bodily AI and robotics. The federal government goals to assist industry-specific AI robots, Korean bodily AI basis fashions, information factories, and the coaching of 10,000 AI robotics specialists over 5 years.
SKT stated AI information centres is also linked to regional industries as a part of South Korea’s regional growth plans.
“This AI information centre mission is aimed toward preemptively getting ready the computing infrastructure that the worldwide AI ecosystem wants,” stated Jung Jai-hun, President and CEO of SKT. “We’ll work carefully with the federal government, {industry}, and native communities to assist Korea develop into Asia’s core AI infrastructure hub.”
(Picture by Erik Mclean)
See additionally: Microsoft Chevron deal exhibits AI information centre energy push
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