SK Telecom and Giga Computing partner for AI data centre cooling
SK Telecom (SKT) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Giga Computing and SK Enmove to develop next-generation liquid cooling technology for AI data centres. The agreement, announced at MWC25 in Barcelona, aims to enhance energy efficiency and performance in AI infrastructure.
Giga Computing, a subsidiary of Gigabyte, specialises in cloud, edge computing, and enterprise IT solutions, including advanced cooling technologies such as direct liquid cooling (DLC) and immersion liquid cooling (ILC). SKT is leveraging this partnership to enhance its AI data centre design and operational capabilities, ultimately integrating cooling technology into SK Group’s AI data centre solutions.
Liquid cooling technology utilises non-electric cooling fluids to dissipate heat from servers and key components, providing superior cooling efficiency compared to traditional air cooling. Given that efficient cooling directly impacts power consumption, operational costs, and computing performance, SKT has been actively exploring technical collaborations and research in this area.
Strengthening AI data centre efficiency
SK Enmove has been at the forefront of liquid immersion cooling technology in South Korea, offering optimised cooling fluids based on high-grade lubricant base oil. The company aims to position itself as a leader in global immersion cooling solutions, supporting AI data centres, energy storage systems (ESS), and electric vehicle lubricants.
Through this collaboration, the three companies will focus on research and development, including:
- Technical verification to optimise liquid cooling performance.
- Evaluation of key components such as GPUs.
- Development of tailored solutions for AI data centres.
Giga Computing will contribute its expertise in liquid cooling technology, while SK Enmove will provide high-quality cooling fluids developed through years of research.
Innovations in liquid cooling technologies
The partnership will explore multiple cooling approaches:
- Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC): A system where cooling fluid circulates through a cold plate attached to the server’s high-heat areas.
- Water Bath Immersion Cooling: Servers are submerged in a non-electrically conductive liquid for direct heat dissipation.
- Precision Liquid Cooling (PLC): A rack-based solution where coolant circulates through stacked components.
Industry leaders on the collaboration
Yang Seung-hyun, director of the SK AI R&D Center, said, “Through this collaboration, we are expected to accelerate the development of solutions in the field of liquid cooling, which is one of the next major technologies in AI data centres. Through cooperation with leading companies in the world, we will become a global leader with differentiated AI data centre operation capabilities.”
Kim Dae-Jung, head of SK Enmove Green Business, said, “Based on this collaboration, SK Enmove will contribute to the expansion of the market by developing and supplying optimized cooling fluids that can maximize the energy efficiency of the data center. Based on this, SK Enmove will further strengthen its position as an ‘Energy Saving Company’.”
“As AI and high-performance computing continue to evolve, liquid cooling technology has emerged as a key technology in building sustainable data centers,” said Daniel Hou, president of Giga Computing. “We expect Giga computing to jointly develop next-generation cooling technologies that enable more efficient and environmentally sustainable AI data center operations through this work agreement.”
This collaboration underscores the growing importance of liquid cooling in the AI and data centre industries. As the demand for high-performance computing increases, the adoption of advanced cooling solutions is expected to play a critical role in optimising energy use and reducing carbon footprints in data centres worldwide.
