MEP equipment and ETAP digital-twin monitoring integrated into SK Telecom’s AI DCIM at the Ulsan data center
Ulsan, South Korea, September 1, 2025
SK Telecom has signed a comprehensive procurement agreement with Schneider Electric to supply MEP equipment—including switchgear, UPS, transformers and automated control systems—for its Ulsan AI data center. Schneider Electric will integrate ETAP digital-twin software with SK Telecom’s AI DCIM platform to enable real-time monitoring, predictive operations and energy optimisation. The partnership also covers prefabricated MEP modules to shorten construction timelines and an MoU to pursue joint UPS and ESS development across SK Group affiliates. The Ulsan facility will expand SK Telecom’s AIDC capacity and support plans to scale energy-as-a-service offerings and standardized infrastructure across projects.
The telecommunications company has moved to advance its data center build-out by signing a comprehensive integrated procurement agreement with Schneider Electric for MEP equipment and solutions to support the establishment of the SK AIDC in Ulsan. In addition, the deal includes integrating Schneider Electric’s ETAP digital-twin software into SK Telecom’s unified AI DCIM system to enable more precise, real-time operation of power and infrastructure resources.
The agreement covers equipment across five MEP categories, with concrete parts including switchgear, Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), transformers, and automated control systems. The fifth category is not specified in public details, but the package is designed to cover end-to-end power, cooling and control needs for the Ulsan facility. The collaboration aims to streamline procurement, design, construction and ongoing operation of the data center campus.
Under the plan, Schneider Electric will supply critical MEP gear for the SK AIDC in Ulsan, while SK Telecom will embed Schneider Electric’s ETAP digital twin software into its AI DCIM platform. ETAP is described as a leading digital twin tool for power systems that supports stages from design to analysis and operation. The integration is expected to empower digital twin–based operational optimization, enabling SK Telecom to monitor and manage power consumption and infrastructure utilization in real time.
The AI DCIM platform provides software and tools to watch power use and equipment load in a data center, and the ETAP–AI DCIM integration is intended to maximize efficiency and broaden the capabilities of SK Telecom’s AI-driven data center management. The two companies have formed a working group since the March announcement at a major industry event, and this group is actively pursuing multiple collaborative efforts to advance their shared targets.
Key areas of collaboration include integrating and commercializing SKT’s AI DCIM with Schneider Electric’s automated control systems, developing MEP reference designs, and delivering prefabricated and integrated solutions to shorten construction timelines. The partners also plan to expand their joint Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) initiatives and to coordinate sales efforts to accelerate market adoption.
Beyond the deal, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to broaden collaboration across the SK Group. This broader collaboration aims to co-develop Schneider Electric’s UPS and Energy Storage System (ESS) technologies with SK On’s lithium-ion battery capabilities, and to coordinate procurement across SK Group affiliates in order to maximize synergies. A dedicated executive leadership group has signaled that the collaboration seeks to unlock a wider set of opportunities across the group’s network.
The plan aligns with a broader strategy to grow an AI infrastructure hub in the Asia Pacific region. The Ulsan AIDC is positioned to begin operations in 2027 and, when added to the Guro DC in Seoul, will push SK Telecom’s total data center capacity past 300 megawatts. The investment and development targets include ambitious revenue goals for the AIDC business by 2030, signaling a long-term push toward scale, efficiency and regional AI readiness.
In related context, SK Telecom has highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen information protection and cybersecurity as part of its broader digital strategy. While these security-focused programs are separate from the data center deal, they underscore the company’s aim to build a robust and trustworthy digital infrastructure for enterprise and consumer services alike.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Parties | SK Telecom and Schneider Electric, with expanded collaboration across SK Group via a MoU. |
| Scope | Integrated MEP procurement and digital-twin integration for the SK AIDC in Ulsan; ETAP integrated into AI DCIM. |
| MEP categories | Five categories including switchgear, UPS, transformers, automated control systems, and one additional category. |
| Digital twin integration | ETAP digital twin software integrated with AI DCIM to enable real-time optimization of power and infrastructure use. |
| Collaboration outcomes | MEP reference designs, prefabricated/integrated solutions, expanded EaaS, and joint procurement across SK Group affiliates. |
| Timeline | Ulsan AIDC operations planned for 2027; total capacity to exceed 300 MW with Seoul’s Guro DC. |
| Strategic impact | Supports gigawatt-scale expansion and strengthens regional AI infrastructure leadership in the Asia Pacific region. |
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