SKT Launches Low-Power, High-Efficiency Cloud Infrastructure... Cost Reduction

SK Telecom announced on the 4th that it will enter the low-power, high-efficiency ARM-based cloud infrastructure (cloud appliance) business that can reduce corporate IT infrastructure construction and operation costs.

The ‘cloud appliance’ is a product that integrates SKT’s virtualization technology optimized for commercial software on ARM-based servers with high core density and power efficiency. It can be used not only in an enterprise’s own operating infrastructure environment but also in all cloud environments.

(From left) Lee Hyung-bae, CEO of TmaxSoft, Choi Il-gyu, Vice President of SKT, and Kim Young-chae, CEO of Korea HPE, are taking a commemorative photo after signing a business agreement. Photo by SKT

Compared to existing x86-based servers, the expected total cost savings (over 3 years) is up to 40%, enabling revolutionary reductions in investment and operating costs. In addition, customers can utilize carbon reduction certification achievements from purchasing cloud appliances, supporting corporate ESG management.

For the launch of the first cloud appliance, SKT partnered with server manufacturer Korea HPE and leading domestic software specialist TmaxSoft. After early supply of ARM-based servers from Korea HPE and applying its own virtualization solution, SKT installed TmaxSoft’s WEB/WAS (web/web application server) solution and compared performance with x86-based products.

Verification results showed that under the same traffic capacity environment, the cloud appliance’s power consumption was reduced by up to 40% compared to x86-based servers, and performance per unit power improved by up to 120%. This corresponds to an annual carbon emission reduction of 41.7 tons per rack (cabinet).

On the 25th, the three companies signed a business agreement at SK Namsan Building to cooperate in targeting the cloud appliance market. Through the agreement, they established cooperation measures including ▲forming a joint task force (TF) ▲supporting customer demonstrations and discovering key customers ▲developing strategic business models to secure market leadership.

SKT plans to focus initially on supplying cloud appliances specialized for solutions of domestic software specialists (ISVs, Independent Software Vendors) through continuous collaboration. In the future, the business will expand to general-purpose appliance areas suitable for cloud service providers and companies with their own data centers, as well as AI infrastructure areas.

Furthermore, to support the ESG performance of customers who adopt cloud appliances, SKT will promote carbon reduction measures and ESG certification. They stated that they will support customers in utilizing carbon credits secured through future business activities.

Choi Il-gyu, Head of SKT Cloud CO (Vice President), said, “SKT Cloud Appliance will solve concerns about reducing IT infrastructure construction and operation costs, such as rising electricity bills and space shortages, which many companies face recently. By supplying integrated products optimized for hardware and software, we will provide new growth opportunities for domestic software specialists and expand cooperation to strengthen the service competitiveness of cloud service providers.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.