SK Telecom Launches AI Factory Software Platform with Nvidia for Manufacturers

Gate News message, April 28 — South Korea's SK Telecom is building AI software for manufacturers centered on digital twins and robot training, enabling process testing in virtual factory models before real-world deployment. The digital twin platform runs on Nvidia Omniverse, while the robot training platform uses Nvidia Cosmos and Isaac GR00T. The company is piloting both tools with SK Group manufacturers and external customers, with demand concentrated in semiconductor, automotive, and shipbuilding sectors. SK Telecom plans to distribute the software through a subscription model with modular features.

SK Telecom operates the software effort within a dedicated AI "company in company" (CIC) business unit. The company has set a target of annual revenue above 5 trillion won (US$3.55 billion) by 2030 and plans to invest 5 trillion won over the next five years. This strategic pivot follows significant financial challenges in 2025, when the company's revenue declined 4.7% and net income fell 73% following a cybersecurity incident that exposed sensitive SIM-related data for approximately 26.9 million to 27 million mobile subscribers.

SK Telecom has already launched its first 1-gigawatt AI data center (AIDC) in Ulsan, an industrial city in southeastern South Korea, with plans to expand similar facilities nationwide. Through a "Manufacturing AI Cloud" partnership with Nvidia and SK Group, the company is positioning itself as a model for telecommunications operators integrating AI tools with industrial growth and broader economic development.