SK Telecom, one of South Korea’s largest telecom operators and part of the wider SK Group, has officially broken ground on its AI-dedicated data center in Ulsan. This is one of the largest such facilities outside South Korea’s Seoul metropolitan area. This marks the beginning of construction following the contract signing in June.
In a post on LinkedIn, the company revealed that the facility will feature high density GPU & server racks (20-40 kW per rack). It also said that it will use a hybrid air-and-liquid-cooling system.
“Ulsan offers unique regional advantages, including a stable supply of gas and power, proximity to undersea cables and an ideal environment for industries,” said the company explaining the reason behind choosing the location. The facility aims to operate with “cost efficiency, stable power supply and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.”
James Ryu, President & CEO, SK Telecom further said, “The story of Ulsan and the SK group dates back to the 1960s. Well-known as Korea’s leading manufacturing city, this city has continuously evolved and thrived. Today, we stand at the starting line of a new chapter as we lay the foundation for AI in this storied city.” He further said, “The potential impact of ‘SK AIDC in Ulsan’ is immense. By combining industrial excellence with cutting-edge AI, Ulsan will create new jobs, attract innovative businesses, and enhance regional competitiveness, ultimately revitalizing the economy.”
Readers would recall that SK Telecom launched its first AI data center in Seoul last year, introducing cloud-based GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS). Then in March this year, on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress (MWC), CEO Ryu had revealed that SK Telecom plans to build one of the country’s largest data centers. It also has ambitious goals surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI) including building an AI Infra Super Highway.