KT Plans to Expand Data Center Capacity by 500MW Within 5 Years

KT plans to increase its domestic data center (AIDC) capacity by over 500MW within five years.

KT's new AIDC expansion plan was detailed by Kim Bong-kyun, KT's Enterprise Division Head, during the first-quarter earnings call on the 12th. Kim stated, "We are pursuing a goal of over 500MW (for the entire cloud) within five years."

KT will particularly focus on high-power AIDC development in non-metropolitan regions where power supply is stable. To address power supply challenges, a major hurdle in AIDC construction, the company employs a 'two-track strategy': developing high-power data centers in non-metropolitan areas with easier power access, and low-power data centers in the Seoul metropolitan area where power supply is more constrained.

To manage heat generated by high-power AIDC facilities, KT is piloting a liquid cooling system, the first in Korea, at its Gasan Data Center. Liquid cooling is essential for high-power data centers.

In addition to the 500MW AIDC expansion plan over five years, KT is also undertaking security innovations, comprehensively revamping its enterprise-wide information security system under the leadership of its Information Security Division. The company aims to prevent customer damage proactively through AI-based real-time security threat detection and to restore trust by implementing customer reward programs.