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Newsletter N°91 - Summer Edition 2026
💻Physical AI: SK Telecom to Deploy AI-RAN and Physical AI Infrastructure Across South Korea
South Korea is testing a new generation of telecom infrastructure that combines AI, 5G networks and robotics to support autonomous systems in real-world environments.
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SK Telecom has been selected to lead South Korea’s Hyper-AI Network Infrastructure pilot project, a government initiative supporting the country’s broader “AI Highway” strategy. The project aims to develop and test AI-RAN (AI Radio Access Network) infrastructure capable of supporting ultra-low-latency, highly reliable and precise connectivity for AI-powered applications.
Unlike conventional radio access networks, AI-RAN integrates AI computing capabilities directly into the telecom network infrastructure. This can allow the same infrastructure to simultaneously support telecommunications services and AI workloads. SK Telecom has already demonstrated AI-RAN technology in South Korea and has been working with companies including Nokia, HFR and Intel to test different network architectures and resource-management solutions.
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As part of the new pilot, SK Telecom will test three Physical AI applications: autonomous vehicles, humanoid robots and quadruped robots. Physical AI refers to AI systems capable of perceiving and interacting with the physical world, making high-performance connectivity increasingly important for applications such as robotics, autonomous mobility and industrial automation.​
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A conceptual image of SK Telecom's government-backed "Hyper-AI Network Infrastructure" pilot project / Courtesy of SK Telecom
The project will initially involve infrastructure from four equipment manufacturers: Samsung Electronics, HFR, Ericsson and Nokia. SK Telecom plans to deploy the first AI-RAN networks in the Seoul metropolitan area and Incheon, while additional applications will be tested in other industrial and technology hubs. Samsung equipment, for example, will support a patrol robot service at a refinery operated by SK Group, demonstrating how AI-RAN could be used in industrial environments.​
In Pangyo, a major technology hub south of Seoul, HFR equipment will support trials involving autonomous transportation. Ericsson equipment is expected to be introduced during the second year of the project for additional autonomous vehicle testing at KG Mobility’s Pyeongtaek manufacturing facility. The objective is to validate the technology across different real-world environments rather than limiting AI-RAN to laboratory testing.​SK Telecom’s strategy is part of a broader transformation of its business from a traditional telecommunications operator into an AI infrastructure provider.
The company joined the AI-RAN Alliance in March 2026 and is currently the only South Korean telecom operator with a board seat in the organization. SKT has also been working with Nokia and HFR on AI-RAN and with Ericsson on the use of AI-RAN technologies for future 6G networks.​ The initiative is also connected to SK Telecom’s wider investments in AI computing infrastructure. In June 2026, SKT announced plans with NVIDIA to develop a gigawatt-scale AI Cloud in Korea, with the first AI factory planned for 2027.
The infrastructure is intended to support sovereign AI, enterprise AI, agentic AI and Physical AI applications.​ This development highlights a broader trend in South Korea: the convergence of telecommunications, AI computing and physical infrastructure. Networks are increasingly becoming part of the infrastructure required to operate autonomous vehicles, robots and intelligent industrial systems. For construction and infrastructure players, this could create new opportunities around smart factories, connected infrastructure, autonomous mobility, industrial sites and AI-enabled buildings.