SK Telecom revamps for the AI era

• SK Telecom has restructured its operations into seven divisions, aligning with its AI-first strategy and focusing on communications and AI business growth.
• The reorganisation aims to enhance AI innovation through units like AI datacentres and AI transformation, while reinforcing core telecommunications operations.

What happened: SK Telecom moves towards AI

SK Telecom (SKT), a leading South Korean telecommunications company, has revealed a major reorganisation aimed at bolstering its position in artificial intelligence (AI) and communications.

The new structure divides the company into seven specialised business divisions, aligned with its AI pyramid strategy, to target key growth areas in both AI and telecommunications.

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The reorganisation splits SKT’s operations into three communications divisions—mobile networks, wireline/media, and enterprise—and four AI-focused divisions: Adot, global personal AI agent (GPAA), AI transformation (AIX), and AI datacentre (AI DC). These divisions are supported by shared infrastructure groups, including an AI research and development centre and a global investment hub. By streamlining its operations, SKT aims to achieve greater efficiency and capitalise on emerging opportunities in AI-powered solutions and services.

Why this is important

This strategic shift underscores SK Telecom’s commitment to evolving from a telecommunications provider into a technology company that leverages AI at its core. The AI business divisions, particularly AIX and AI DC, reflect a focused effort to integrate advanced AI applications into SKT’s operations while also providing scalable solutions for global markets.

The inclusion of GPU-as-a-service (GPUaaS) in its AI datacentre division highlights SKT’s ambition to establish itself as a significant player in AI infrastructure. By aligning its resources and expertise under a more execution-focused framework, the company aims to deliver measurable results, strengthening its competitive edge both domestically and internationally.