OpenAI partners on Korean AI data centres

• OpenAI is collaborating with Samsung SDS and SK Telecom on AI data centre initiatives in South Korea
• The move reflects rising regional demand for AI-ready infrastructure and sovereign compute capacity

What happened: Aligning AI with local infrastructure

OpenAI is working with Samsung SDS and SK Telecom to advance AI-focused data centre capabilities in South Korea, according to Capacity Media.

Samsung SDS is the IT services arm of Samsung Group, specialising in cloud, logistics and enterprise systems integration, while SK Telecom is the country’s largest mobile operator and an active investor in AI services and infrastructure. The collaboration centres on building or upgrading facilities capable of supporting high-performance AI workloads, including large language models and enterprise AI applications. See also: FCC backs fibre builders with permit limits.

According to the report, the initiative aims to combine OpenAI’s software and model expertise with local data centre capacity and telecoms infrastructure. The focus is on enabling scalable AI services within South Korea, reducing latency and meeting data sovereignty expectations. See also: Ofcom exposes UK rail mobile coverage gap.

The announcement comes as governments and enterprises across Asia-Pacific seek greater control over AI infrastructure, rather than relying exclusively on overseas hyperscale regions. South Korea, with its advanced digital economy and strong semiconductor ecosystem, is positioning itself as a regional AI hub. See also: Robert Neuwirth.

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Why it’s important

AI workloads are reshaping data centre economics. Training and inference for large models require significant compute density, power and cooling capacity, pushing operators to rethink facility design. By linking with established Korean players, OpenAI gains proximity to both enterprise customers and network infrastructure. See also: EU rewrites AI infrastructure sovereignty rules.

For Samsung SDS and SK Telecom, the partnership enhances their credentials in AI infrastructure at a time when competition among regional cloud and data centre providers is intensifying. From a financial perspective, AI-ready facilities can command premium pricing, but they also require heavy upfront investment in power and specialised hardware. See also: EU squeezes US satellite operators from spectrum.

The move also reflects a broader trend towards localisation. As regulatory scrutiny over data governance grows, aligning global AI platforms with domestic infrastructure operators can ease compliance concerns and improve service performance. See also: FCC mandates licences for US undersea cable landings.

If successful, the collaboration could strengthen South Korea’s position in the regional AI race, tying together telecoms networks, enterprise IT services and cutting-edge AI development in a single ecosystem. See also: US closes offshore AI chip loophole.