SK Telecom is partnering with NVIDIA to build a dedicated AI cloud infrastructure. Amidst intensifying competition to secure GPU-based computing resources and data centers driven by the proliferation of generative AI, the two companies plan to target the Asian AI infrastructure market, using Korea as their first base.

SK Telecom announced on the 8th that it is pursuing full-stack AI cloud cooperation based on the NVIDIA DSX platform, encompassing chips, systems, and data center operations. Earlier, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won and NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang met in Taiwan on the 1st to discuss plans for cooperation between the two companies' AI infrastructure.

The AI factory that the two companies intend to build is a data center specialized in AI training and inference. Compared to existing data centers focused on data storage and processing, GPUs, networks, power efficiency, and operational software are critical.

SK Telecom plans to launch its first AI factory in Korea in 2027 and verify its operating model based on it. Subsequently, the company intends to expand its infrastructure to a gigawatt (GW) scale and broaden its business scope to the Asian region.

For this collaboration, SK Telecom joins the NVIDIA Cloud Partner Program. Starting with the NVIDIA Blackwell GPU, the Vera Rubin platform will also be utilized sequentially in the future.

The collaboration between SK Group and NVIDIA has so far centered on the supply of SK Hynix's High Bandwidth Memory (HBM). This latest cooperation is significant in that it expands the scope beyond semiconductors to include data center design and operation, as well as AI cloud businesses.

The two companies will also pursue joint research to develop the design and operating system for next-generation AI factories. This is expected to include research on computing architectures that enhance both GPU and memory performance.

The industry views securing stable computing infrastructure as a key variable for corporate competitiveness as the demand for AI services increases. SK Telecom is expected to expand its AI cloud business based on its experience in operating telecommunications networks and data centers, while NVIDIA is projected to support infrastructure deployment through its DSX platform and GPU ecosystem.