"Telecom Operators Are the Architects of AI Infrastructure"... SK Telecom Deepens AI Cooperation with Global Telecom Alliance [MWC 2026]

Barcelona (Spain) — Jung Jaihun, CEO of SK Telecom, said on the 2nd (local time), "Telecom operators’ unique infrastructure and operational know-how are the key to building AI infrastructure and scaling AI services," adding, "Telecom operators must go beyond simply delivering data quickly and securely to become the architects and owners of AI infrastructure."
Jung made these remarks in his keynote speech at the conference "Redesigning Telecom Infrastructure in the Age of AI" held in Barcelona, Spain, as a side event hosted by SK Telecom during Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026. The event focused on AI data centers (AI DC) and brought together senior executives from global telecom operators, including Bill Chang, CEO of Singtel Digital InfraCo; Sabri Al-Buraiki, chief technology officer (CTO) of e& international; and Tadao Yanase, chief business development officer (CBDO) of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT).
SK Telecom introduced its Sovereign AI Package, which integrates three key elements: AI data center (AI DC) infrastructure built on the capabilities of SK Group, its in-house AI model A.X K1, and AI services for industrial and enterprise customers.
The strategy is to build a sovereign AI foundation model that understands local language and culture on top of infrastructure that is controlled and operated domestically with data sovereignty in mind, and to provide AI services that have been validated in real industrial settings as a single package. Through this approach, the company aims to safeguard national AI sovereignty while accelerating business innovation.
During the discussion session, participants held a wide-ranging debate on technology innovation, regulatory responses, and implementation strategies for AI data centers (AI DC). They agreed that, because AI DCs are highly advanced infrastructure requiring massive power, high-performance equipment, and ultra-high-speed networks at the same time, they should be built more efficiently through joint efforts among telecom operators.
SK Telecom also rolled up its sleeves to strengthen its AI cooperation network through one-on-one business meetings with global telecom operators and tech companies.
Jung met with Hatem Dowidar, CEO of e& Group, and Harrison Lung, chief strategy officer (CSO), and agreed to continue their strategic partnership as they expand global AI infrastructure. He is also holding a series of meetings with Christel Heydemann, CEO of European telecom operator Orange, which has more than 340 million subscribers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and Bruno Zerbib, chief technology and innovation officer (CTIO). It is the first time the two companies’ CEOs have met. Jung also plans to meet Tim Höttges, chairman of Deutsche Telekom, to share SK Telecom’s AI data center plans, its technology and operational capabilities, its experience in building the proprietary AI foundation model A.X K1, and its AI base station (AI-RAN) technology, and to explore areas of collaboration.
Jung said, "In the AI era, competitiveness depends not only on technology itself, but on how you design and interconnect the infrastructure," and added, "Together with global telecom operators, we will build a trustworthy AI infrastructure and service ecosystem."

mkchang@fnnews.com Jang Min-kwon Reporter