- SKT and AWS will co-develop cloud-based AI services, using AWS Bedrock and SageMaker, along with a new “AI FinOps” cost-management tool.
- The alliance aims to launch hybrid AI cloud offerings, allowing regulated industries to run sensitive workloads on-premises while leveraging AWS infrastructure.
What happened: SKT and AWS deepen partnership to launch AI services
SK Telecom and its IT-services subsidiary SK AX have entered into a strategic collaboration agreement with AWS to deliver a suite of AI and cloud services tailored for vertical industries such as finance, manufacturing, gaming, retail and the public sector. The deal expands on prior cooperation and taps AWS’s generative-AI tools — such as AWS Bedrock — and its managed ML platform SageMaker. SKT and SK AX also plan to offer an “AI FinOps” solution designed to monitor and optimise cloud usage in real time, helping enterprises manage total cost of ownership.
The partnership also supports hybrid-cloud AI deployments. While hyperscale cloud infrastructure is available via AWS, SKT will enable customers in regulated sectors — such as finance and manufacturing — to process sensitive workloads on their own servers, using SKT’s GPU resources. This dual-path approach aims to meet both performance needs and compliance requirements.
Additionally, SKT and AWS will involve members of the local start-up coalition known as the K‑AI Alliance to build an AI-cloud hub aimed at generating industry-specific AI applications and services.
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Why it’s important
This expanded partnership marks a significant milestone for AI infrastructure in South Korea and possibly across the Asia-Pacific region. By combining AWS’s global cloud scale with SKT’s local network reach and industry knowledge, the collaboration may accelerate the adoption of enterprise-grade AI solutions beyond typical tech players.
The hybrid-cloud model is particularly noteworthy. It addresses a critical challenge for regulated industries — compliance and data sovereignty — while offering the scalability and flexibility of the cloud. If successful, it could become a blueprint for how telecom operators globally deliver AI services under strict regulatory constraints.
Moreover, the “AI FinOps” offering reveals a growing awareness that AI workloads may generate unpredictable costs. Giving clients real-time visibility and optimisation could become essential as generative-AI deployments expand. Finally, involving local start-ups through the K-AI Alliance has the potential to foster a vibrant AI-services ecosystem rooted in domestic talent and tailored to regional industry needs.
