SK Telecom Co Ltd【SKM】株式ニュース

SK Telecom Pursues 15GW AI Data Center Buildout, Aiming to Become Asia's AI Infrastructure HubJuly 4, 2026 8:29 PM
PR Newswire (US) Ulsan AI Data Center to expand to GW scale; 5GW to be activated in stages from 2029, reaching 15GW in totalSK Group brings together full-stack AI infrastructure capabilities; SKT to spearhead the overall projectKorea's third national infrastructure revolution following the Gyeongbu Expressway and high-speed internetSEOUL, Korea, July 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- SK Telecom (NYSE: SKM, hereafter "SKT") today announced that it will pursue the construction of an AI data center with a scale of up to 15GW. The goal is to become an AI infrastructure hub in Asia.The move is intended to preemptively build domestic AI computing infrastructure at a time when demand for AI model training and inference is surging and high-performance computing infrastructure determines national competitiveness.SKT is pursuing the project by linking it with the government's "AI G3" strategy — the goal of becoming one of the world's three leading AI powers alongside the U.S. and China — and the task of balanced regional development, comprehensively reviewing core infrastructure elements such as power, siting, and operations for the AI data center.Ulsan AI Data Center to Expand to GW Scale; 5GW to Be Activated in Stages from 2029, Reaching 15GW in TotalDue to the buildout of high-performance AI computing infrastructure and rising memory prices, constructing a typical 1GW-class AI data center may require a substantial project cost reaching approximately KRW 70 trillion. Such costs are expected to be financed not only through the company's own investment but also through strategic partner investment, long-term customer contracts, and project financing.The backdrop to SKT's move into building an AI data center at this scale is a global supply shortage. Global consulting firm McKinsey & Company forecasts that global data center demand will grow 19–22% annually while supply fails to keep pace, resulting in an estimated shortfall of about 15GW in the U.S. alone by 2030.[1]Accordingly, global big tech companies are expanding data center investment beyond the U.S. to locations around the world. In this context, Korea is drawing attention as an investment destination for global big tech companies' AI data centers.Korea holds strong competitiveness in core AI components such as high-bandwidth memory (HBM). It also has stable power supply conditions based on nuclear power and liquefied natural gas (LNG), along with GW-class infrastructure operating capabilities accumulated through operating semiconductor fabs, making it an attractive location for AI data centers.Based on this solid demand and locational advantages, SKT plans to build AI data center capacity totaling 15GW.First, starting with the AI data center currently under construction in Ulsan, SKT will build a cluster of over 2GW across the southeastern region (Gyeongsang), using it as a base to attract AI infrastructure demand from global big tech companies to Korea. It also plans to build an additional 1GW in the southwestern region (Jeolla), bringing its domestic AI data center capacity to a total of 5GW to be opened in stages starting in 2029.To this end, SKT will pursue AI data center construction by considering various factors together — including site selection, power supply, and securing key anchor tenants — in connection with the government's balanced regional development tasks and strategic supply plans.SK Group brings together full-stack AI infrastructure capabilities; SKT to spearhead the overall project as AI Infrastructure Architect AI data center infrastructure hinges on three core elements: semiconductors, energy solutions, and data center construction and operation capabilities. SK Group already holds these core capabilities across its affiliates. This project will bring together the Group's full-stack AI infrastructure capabilities, with each affiliate contributing its own strengths.In particular, SKT will take on the central role of leading the design, construction, and operation of the AI data centers. SKT has already been actively pursuing the AI data center business and has continued its cooperation with global big tech companies[2]. At SK AI Summit 2025 last November, SKT President and CEO Jung Jai-hun unveiled the company's AI infrastructure roadmap, stating that SKT would lead the evolution of AI infrastructure as the nation's leading AI operator. He also presented a longer-term blueprint for expanding cooperation with global big tech companies and scaling up the Ulsan AI Data Center to a total of over 1GW.More recently, SKT announced plans to operate an "AI Factory," described as a next-generation AI data center. SKT plans to begin AI Factory operations in 2027 and expand it to GW scale going forward.Korea's Third National Infrastructure Revolution Following the Gyeongbu Expressway and High-Speed InternetThe AI industry expects that AI data centers will serve not only as a new growth engine for Korea, but also as a national strategic asset. In particular, it is expected that linking AI data centers with regional industries will contribute to balanced regional development.The construction of a 15GW-scale AI data center is expected to serve as a springboard for Korea to become an AI infrastructure hub. SKT views AI data centers as Korea's third innovative infrastructure, following the Gyeongbu Expressway (1968) and high-speed internet (1998), and intends to take a leading role in advancing it."This AI data center project is aimed at preemptively preparing the computing infrastructure that the global AI ecosystem needs," said Jung Jai-hun, President and CEO of SKT. "We will work closely with the government, industry, and local communities to help Korea grow into Asia's core AI infrastructure hub."About SK Telecom SK Telecom has been leading the growth of the mobile industry since 1984. Now, it is taking customer experience to new heights by extending beyond connectivity. By placing AI at the core of its business, SK Telecom is rapidly transforming into an AI company with a strong global presence. It is focusing on driving innovations in areas of AI Infrastructure, AI Transformation (AIX) and AI Service to deliver greater value for industry, society, and life. For more information, please visit our newsroom at https://news.sktelecom.com/en/ or our LinkedIn page at www.linkedin.com/company/sk-telecom.Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements in this press release including, but not limited to, statements as to: SK Telecom's plans, objectives and expectations regarding the development, construction, financing and operation of AI data centers and AI infrastructure; the planned development of AI data center capacity, including the phased development of projects in Ulsan and other regions of Korea; anticipated project timing, financing arrangements and strategic partnerships; expectations regarding AI Factory deployment, AI infrastructure demand and Korea's position as an AI infrastructure hub; and other statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to the "safe harbor" created by those sections based on management's beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different than expectations.Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include: global economic and political conditions; customer demand for AI infrastructure and services; the availability and cost of financing, computing resources, semiconductors, power, networking capacity and data center infrastructure; changes in governmental policies, applicable laws and regulations; the ability to secure strategic partners and customers; technological developments and competition; supply chain disruptions; the ability of SK Telecom and its collaborators and partners to successfully implement the contemplated initiatives and realize anticipated benefits; and other factors detailed from time to time in reports filed or furnished by SK Telecom with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F.These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and speak only as of the date hereof, and, except as required by applicable law, SK Telecom undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances.[1] "AI Power: Expanding data center capacity to meet growing demand" (McKinsey & Company)[2] SK Telecom and NVIDIA Build AI Infrastructure to Power Korea's AI Innovation (June 8, 2026) https://news.sktelecom.com/en/3124
SK Group and AWS Team Up to Build Cloud Computing Infrastructure to Support AI Innovation (June 22, 2025) https://news.sktelecom.com/en/1948 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sk-telecom-pursues-15gw-ai-data-center-buildout-aiming-to-become-asias-ai-infrastructure-hub-302817963.htmlSOURCE SK Telecom Original: SK Telecom Pursues 15GW AI Data Center Buildout, Aiming to Become Asia's AI Infrastructure Hub

SK Telecom CEO Unveils 'AI Native' Strategy at MWC26, Driving Korea's Leap in AI InnovationMarch 1, 2026 7:35 PM
PR Newswire (US)

- Seizing the golden time for a major transformation, with 'Customer Value & AI' as the top two priorities for driving change- Major overhaul of systems and infrastructure, the foundation of telecommunications, centered on AI- Redesigning customer-friendly products, promoting integrated AI agents, and strengthening communication with customers - Advancing hyperscale AI data centers, developing 1000B AI models, and focusing on manufacturing AI to help Korea become one of the world's top three AI leadersBARCELONA, March 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- SK Telecom (NYSE:SKM, hereinafter referred to as "SKT") has announced a major transformation to lead the era of AI.

On March 1, SKT CEO Jung Jai-hun held a press conference in Barcelona, Spain, and announced the company's 'AI Native' innovation strategy, which includes a reorganization of AI infrastructure and large-scale investment plans.This strategy reflects SKT's ambition to redesign its telecommunications leadership DNA into an AI-driven DNA, building on its core strengths, and to lead Korea's leap toward becoming one of the world's top three AI leaders through bold challenges and change. CEO Jung Jai-hun stated, "SKT is currently at a golden time of transformation, where the two tasks of 'customer value innovation' and 'AI innovation' intersect in a borderless, converged environment that goes beyond telecommunications. SKT defines 'the customer as the very essence of our business,' and through innovation driven by AI, we will evolve into a company that makes meaningful contributions to our customers and to Korea."Maximizing Customer Value with 'AI-powered Telco' SKT plans to build stronger relationships with customers and significantly enhance customer-perceived value by applying AI across all areas of telecommunications.To achieve this, SKT will undertake a major overhaul of its integrated IT systems, the foundation of its telecom services, redesigning them to be optimized for AI.SKT will build all integrated systems, including sales IT, line management, and billing systems, around AI, enabling the company to promptly design and provide personalized plans and memberships tailored to each customer's needs.In particular, SKT will establish a Zero Trust information security framework across all systems, strengthening security through rigorous authentication, access control, network segmentation, and AI-based integrated security monitoring.SKT is also accelerating its 'autonomous network operations' strategy, which leverages AI to automate network management.SKT is set to transition from human-centered operations to AI-driven autonomous systems across wireless quality management, traffic control, and network equipment and facility operations, with the goal of maximizing customer-perceived quality. With AI-RAN technology, the company plans to deliver ultra-fast, seamless, and ultra-low latency communications.Customer-Friendly Redesign Across All Touchpoints, from Services to Customer Touchpoints—Enhancing Two-Way Communication with CustomersSKT plans to redesign its telecom services and products to be more customer-friendly, while also strengthening two-way communication with customers.For services such as pricing, roaming, and membership, SKT will prioritize customer convenience by restructuring them into simple and intuitive formats and automatically offering personalized packages.SKT is also developing an 'integrated AI agent' that connects the dispersed customer experiences across various touchpoints, such as T world (SKT's main customer portal) and T Direct Shop (SKT's official online store).By quickly analyzing customers' daily patterns and needs with AI, SKT aims to create a single agent that delivers personalized experiences at every touchpoint. In addition, SKT will enhance its AI Contact Center (AICC), enabling all customer service representatives to use AI for accurate and prompt support.Offline stores will also leverage AI to shift from sales-focused operations to providing deeper customer experiences, accurately identifying needs, and automatically offering personalized recommendations even after a visit—delivering highly tailored curation services. In addition, SKT plans to create 'AI Personas' to analyze digital behavior data across various customer segments, enabling a comprehensive understanding of each customer's needs and preferences through natural, conversational Q&A. This approach will allow SKT to communicate more effectively with all customers.SKT is further advancing 'A. phone (A-DoT phone),' developing it into a true AI agent that can automatically organize call notes and schedules, connect customers to personalized services, and even perform related actions. SKT plans to expand opportunities for employees to engage directly with customers in the field, fostering two-way communication. This year, SKT plans to actively listen to a wide range of customer groups, as well as experts from industry and academia, and thoroughly reflect their voices in all aspects of company management.Building 1GW-Class AI Data Centers Nationwide to Establish Asia's Largest AIDC HubSKT will build 1GW-class hyperscale AI data center (AIDC) infrastructure across Korea, aiming to attract global investment and establish the nation as Asia's largest AIDC hub.In addition to its GPU cluster Haein, SKT is building AIDCs and plans to expand to hyperscale capacity exceeding 1GW through global partnerships. The company also plans to build an AIDC in Korea's southwestern region in collaboration with OpenAI, as part of its broader vision to establish a nationwide AI infrastructure network.Together with SK hynix, SK Ecoplant, and SK Innovation, SKT will secure solutions across the entire value chain—from AIDC construction to cooling, servers, energy, and operations—to provide AIDCs with industry-leading cost efficiency.Last year, SKT applied its high-performance, high-efficiency virtualization solution 'Petasus AI Cloud' to Haein, its GPU cluster built for GPUaaS, and this year plans to offer Petasus AI Cloud in the global market.SKT will upgrade its sovereign AI foundation model, currently the largest in Korea at 519B parameters, to over 1T (one trillion parameters), securing AI sovereignty and driving innovation across industries. In particular, SKT plans to enhance the model by adding multimodal capabilities, enabling it to process not only image data but also voice and video data, starting in the second half of this year.Moreover, SKT will focus on jointly developing a 'manufacturing-specialized AI solution' package with SK hynix to strengthen the competitiveness of Korea's manufacturing industries, including semiconductors and energy. This package analyzes process data in real time to reduce defect rates and maximize equipment efficiency, and will be offered in three forms: infrastructure, model, and solution.CEO Jung stated, "AIDC can be seen as the heart of Korea, and hyperscale LLMs as the brain. By combining SKT's AI capabilities with collaboration from domestic and global partners, we will lead true AI-native transformation for Korean customers and enterprises."Transforming Work Culture Around AICEO Jung emphasized, "To drive future growth, we must reinvent our way of working from the ground up. SKT will fundamentally transform its corporate culture to be centered around AI."SKT has built an 'AX (AI Transformation) Dashboard' that provides a comprehensive view of AI utilization by department and individual, accelerating AI adoption across the organization. In addition, SKT operates an 'AI Board' to strengthen dedicated support for AX initiatives and is fostering a work environment and culture where employees can naturally incorporate AI into their daily tasks.SKT has also built an 'AI playground,' enabling employees to easily develop and use AI agents for their work without coding. Currently, more than 2,000 AI agents are being actively used across areas such as marketing, legal, and PR.CEO Jung stated, "By implementing company-wide AI upskilling education and campaigns, we will transform our organizational culture to be AI Native. Through SKT's new transformation, we will do our utmost to regain the trust of our customers and become a company that contributes to the nation and society."About SK TelecomSK Telecom has been leading the growth of the mobile industry since 1984. Now, it is taking customer experience to new heights by extending beyond connectivity. By placing AI at the core of its business, SK Telecom is rapidly transforming into an AI company with a strong global presence. It is focusing on driving innovations in areas of AI Infrastructure, AI Transformation (AIX) and AI Service to deliver greater value for industry, society, and life.For more information, please contact skt_press@sk.com or visit our LinkedIn page www.linkedin.com/company/sk-telecom.

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Original: SK Telecom CEO Unveils 'AI Native' Strategy at MWC26, Driving Korea's Leap in AI Innovation