SK Telecom announced on the 5th (local time) that it has established a partnership with Schneider Electric, a global company in energy management and automation with a history of over 180 years, for cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) data center mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) system.
The AI data center MEP system, which includes mechanical, electrical, and plumbing, plays an essential role in ensuring stability and efficiency from the design and construction phase of AI data centers to their subsequent operational processes.
Schneider Electric has maintained collaboration through a global partnership with Microsoft for 30 years and, last year, entered into a partnership with NVIDIA to optimize AI data center infrastructure and establish digital twin technology, showcasing a data center reference design. Additionally, as of 2024, it has a market capitalization of 211 trillion won and revenue of 58 trillion won, making it a global corporation with approximately 170,000 employees in over 100 countries.
In particular, the technology Schneider Electric possesses in the fields of data center power and distribution is of the highest level in the world, having been selected as the 1st in the '2024 World's Best Sustainability Leaders' announced by TIME magazine last year.
The two companies plan to discuss cooperation in constructing and establishing hyper-scale AI data centers at domestic regional hubs through this partnership and will collaborate across all business areas in the MEP sector, including components, product solutions, and consulting.
As SK Telecom actively promotes the expansion of AI data center operations both domestically and internationally, it is expected that combining its technology and know-how with Schneider Electric's AI data center MEP capabilities and data center management platform technologies integrating power, cooling, and security will maximize the synergy effect of the collaboration.
In the future, SK Telecom plans to develop collaborative solutions related to AI data centers through a long-term partnership with Schneider Electric and expand its AI data center business into the global market.
Pankaj Sharma, Executive Vice President of Secure Power and Services at Schneider Electric, noted that, "Schneider Electric provides optimized solutions across MEP, including data center power infrastructure, cooling systems, and management solutions, based on its extensive experience and technological capability," and expressed that he expects the collaboration to create the best synergy by combining with SK Telecom's AIDC operational capabilities.
Ryu Young-sang, CEO of SK Telecom, stated, "Through cooperation with Schneider Electric, a world-leading AI data center solution provider, I expect to significantly contribute to enhancing our company's AI DC competitiveness as well as entering the global market."