SK Ecoplant to build data center linked to landing station in Pohang

South Korea's SK Ecoplant is set to establish, for the first time in South Korea, a global data center linked to a landing station in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province.

A landing station serves as an intermediate facility that connects international submarine cables to the terrestrial communication network.

SK Ecoplant announced on Friday that it has signed an "investment memorandum of understanding for the creation of a connected global data center campus linked to landing stations" in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the North Gyeongsang provincial government.

This project, with investments totaling 1.5 trillion won ($1.12 billion) from SK Ecoplant, DCT Telecom, and KB Asset Management, will create a total of 120 megawatts of global data centers in the Pohang Blue Valley Industrial Complex, along with international submarine cables connecting multiple countries.

SK Ecoplant will participate in EPC (engineering, procurement, and construction), site acquisition, permits, and the establishment of a joint venture for operations. DCT Telecom will be responsible for the installation and operation of the submarine cables connecting multiple countries and KB Asset Management will handle investments using digital infrastructure funds.

This project introduces the concept of a large-scale global data center campus interconnected with multiple countries, a model widely used in advanced countries such as the US, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Japan, for the first time in South Korea.

Submarine cables will directly connect Pohang to Japan's Fukuoka, with plans for further connections to overseas countries like the US and Europe in the future.

This strategic move is expected to enhance South Korea's competitive advantage in network infrastructure and attract global big tech companies.

Write to In-Hyeok Lee at twopeople@hankyung.com