[Barcelona, Spain=Digital Today reporter Jin-ho Lee] SK Telecom is pursuing a new model with global partners to reduce the time and cost of building AI data centres (DCs).

SKT said on Tuesday it signed a three-way memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Supermicro and Schneider Electric at MWC 2026 in Barcelona to secure an integrated solution based on a pre-fabricated modular approach.

The partnership combines SKT's experience operating AI DC projects with the capabilities of global companies representing the server and MEP (Mechanical·Electrical·Plumbing) sectors. It aims to secure an integrated model that shortens AI DC build times and eases supply bottlenecks.

The core of the cooperation is the pre-fabricated modular approach. It prebuilds power, cooling and IT infrastructure as modules and then assembles them on site. Unlike the existing steel-reinforced concrete (SRC) approach, which sequentially installs servers after a building is completed, it integrates servers for AI computing with power and cooling infrastructure into a single module. That can improve build speed and cost efficiency.

Supermicro has the capability to design and supply high-performance graphics processing unit (GPU) servers specialised for AI training and inference in cooperation with major AI semiconductor companies. It proved its commercial AI infrastructure capabilities last year by working with major U.S. big tech and AI infrastructure companies to build a large-scale AI factory applying servers based on "Blackwell" GPUs and advanced liquid cooling technology. Under the partnership, Supermicro will build high-performance servers and GPU clusters and support the construction of DCs optimised for high-performance AI computing through an integrated configuration that also considers key infrastructure elements such as cooling.

Schneider Electric is leading global standards in DC power management and digital-based operations management solutions. Under the partnership, Schneider Electric plans to present an MEP-based integrated AI DC model that considers everything from the infrastructure design stage to operational efficiency to meet large-scale AI demand.

Ha Min-yong (하민용), head of SKT's AI DC business, said, "Through cooperation with global partners representing the AI DC field, we have moved to 추진 an integrated solution using the pre-fabricated modular approach." He said, "Based on this, we will proactively respond to global big tech customers' demand for AI DC construction and also raise cost competitiveness."