SK Telecom takes the plunge, partners with Giga Computing to develop liquid cooling for AI data centers

Liquid cooling systems are becoming essential infrastructure for AI data centers as high-density computing demands exceed what traditional air cooling can support. SK Telecom’s new partnership with Giga Computing and SK Enmove positions the Korean telecom giant to develop comprehensive liquid cooling solutions spanning all three major cooling technologies. This strategic move reinforces SK Telecom’s growing presence in AI infrastructure, where thermal management has become as critical as computing power itself.

The big picture: SK Telecom has formed a partnership with liquid cooling specialist Giga Computing and SK Enmove to develop next-generation cooling solutions specifically designed for AI workloads.

• The three companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focusing on research, development, and validation of technologies to optimize liquid cooling performance in artificial intelligence data centers (AIDCs).
• This collaboration will address all three primary liquid cooling methods: Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC), Immersion Liquid Cooling (ILC), and Precision Liquid Cooling (PLC).

Why this matters: Traditional cooling systems are increasingly inadequate for the thermal demands of AI infrastructure, making advanced cooling technologies essential for sustainable AI development.

• High-density GPU and NPU clusters used for AI training and inference generate extreme heat that conventional air cooling struggles to dissipate efficiently.
• Effective thermal management directly impacts both the performance and energy efficiency of AI operations.

The technical approach: The partnership will develop a comprehensive liquid cooling package solution through operational verification for GPU and NPU servers essential in AI workloads.

• Giga Computing will contribute specialized liquid cooling expertise while SK Enmove will supply high-quality, energy-efficient cooling fluids engineered for large-scale data center deployments.
• The solutions aim to minimize power consumption and heat generation, critical factors in operating sustainable AI data centers.

What they’re saying: Key executives highlight the strategic importance of developing advanced cooling technologies for AI infrastructure.

• “Our partnership will accelerate the development of liquid cooling solutions, a key next-generation technology for AIDCs,” said Yang Seung-hyun, head of AI R&D Center at SK Telecom.
• “SK Enmove will leverage this collaboration to drive the growth of the liquid cooling market with optimized cooling fluids that can maximize data center energy efficiency and further solidify our position as a leader in energy efficiency,” said Kim Dae-jung, head of the Green Business Unit at SK Enmove.

Broader strategy: The cooling partnership aligns with SK Telecom’s broader AI infrastructure investments and development efforts.

• The company has been actively building what it calls an “AI Infrastructure Superhighway,” encompassing AI data centers, GPU-as-a-Service (GPUaaS), and Edge AI solutions.
• SK Telecom has strategically invested in companies including Lambda and Penguin Solutions to strengthen its AI data center capabilities.