Tech Giants Partner on AI Data Centers
SK Telecom, Supermicro, and Schneider Electric have signed an MOU to collaborate on building AI data centers. The partnership will focus on a pre-fabricated modular model to accelerate deployment and improve cost efficiency for the massive infrastructure builds needed to power AI.
This partnership directly addresses the core bottlenecks in scaling AI: power, cooling, and speed. AI-enabled racks can consume up to six times more power than traditional ones, and constructing a conventional data center can take 18 to 24 months, a timeline completely misaligned with the rapid six-month evolution cycle of AI technology. The prefabricated modular approach cuts deployment time by up to 60%, potentially bringing a data center online in just 6 to 9 months. By manufacturing and testing components in a factory, this model also reduces initial capital expenditure by up to 40% and allows for a "pay-as-you-grow" scaling model, which is critical for managing the massive upfront investment AI infrastructure requires. Each partner brings a distinct piece of the puzzle. SK Telecom provides its expertise in operating large-scale data centers as part of its new "AI Native" strategy, which aims to establish South Korea as Asia's largest AI data center hub with a 1-gigawatt infrastructure plan. Schneider Electric, a leader in energy management, will supply the critical mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems, including the advanced liquid cooling solutions needed for high-density AI clusters. Supermicro will deliver the core computing hardware with its high-performance GPU servers optimized for AI workloads. The company specializes in building blocks-style, liquid-cooled server racks designed to handle the latest high-demand processors from NVIDIA and AMD, positioning itself as a key provider of full-stack AI infrastructure, not just components. This collaboration is a key element of SK Telecom CEO Jung Jai-hun's strategic overhaul, in which he stated the company faces a "crisis" and will "perish" if it fails to adapt to the AI era. The company is investing billions to rebuild its core systems around AI, from its mobile network to its customer service operations.
