Under the “AI Pyramid Strategy” announced in 2023, SKT has accumulated its AI business capabilities through a dual focus on “Self-strengthening” and “Collaboration.” To date, the company has invested over KRW 600 billion in domestic and global AI-related companies and secured a team of approximately 1,200 in AI R&D professionals. Through the Global Telco AI Alliance, SKT has contributed to solidifying the cooperative system for creating a global AI ecosystem and accelerating innovation in the telecommunications sector. In Korea, SKT has taken the lead in spreading Korean AI to the world through the K-AI Alliance, which brings together innovative AI startups and continues to grow its membership.

In 2025, SKT unveiled the “AI Pyramid 2.0” strategy which illustrates the monetization methods as an AI provider, leveraging the company’s accumulated capabilities and experiences.

SKT’s Vision

SKT maintains the system of “Self-strengthening” and “Collaboration” from its original AI Pyramid strategy, while aiming to deliver tangible results by focusing on selected business areas at each level of the pyramid. The AI Pyramid 2.0 Strategy outlines three of main monetization methods for AI: AI Data Centers (AI DC), AI B2B, and AI B2C.

① AI DC
SKT announced its plans to build the “AI Infra Super Highway” at the 2024 SK AI Summit held last November. The “AI Infra Super Highway” is a strategy to build AI infrastructure across Korea centered on three axes: AI DC, GPUaaS, and Edge AI. The company’s vision is to elevate AI DC from a traditional data center business to a key national industry.

In the AI DC business, SKT has segmented its approach into four distinct business models: subscription-based AI cloud GPUaaS, small modular AI DC, dedicated AI DC for individual clients, and hyperscale AI DC. By offering these models in an à la carte format, SKT aims to address the full spectrum of AI DC business needs and accelerate the rollout of the AI Infra Super Highway. SKT has completed preparations for immediate profit generations and mid- to long-term business models. At the Gasan AI data center, which opened in December last year, SKT is preparing to launch GPUaaS services leveraging the latest GPUs and industry-leading operational capabilities. Additionally, SKT is collaborating with global big tech companies to establish hyperscale AI data centers at regional hubs across Korea.

② AIX
AIX is an AI B2B initiative led by the newly established AIX Business Division, which was formed by SKT and SK C&C. AIX aims to identify a wide range of AI use cases that reflect both common challenges across the SK Group and the unique characteristics of each affiliate’s business, focusing on four core services: A. Biz, A. Biz PROFESSIONAL, Manufacturing AI, and Marketing AI.

A. Biz is an AI agent designed to transform the way people work, offering practical features for daily tasks such as scheduling meetings, generating meeting minutes and reports, summarizing market trends, and conducting knowledge research. The second component of A. Biz is A. Biz Pro, which provides AI functionalities tailored to specialized roles such as tax, legal, and human resources. Both A. Biz and A. Biz Pro will be applied to 21 SK Group affiliates by the end of the year.

③ AI B2C
In the AI B2C space, SKT is actively driving a two-track strategy with Agentic AI: the domestic-focused A. (A Dot) and the global-facing Aster(A*). A. has secured 8.9 million users as of the end of February, solidifying its position as the No.1 AI service in Korea. A* is set to launch in the U.S. within the year and will be expanded globally in collaboration with international telecom partners with the goal of providing autonomous AI agent services.

SKT has emphasized both “Self-strengthening” and “Collaboration” through its AI Pyramid Strategy. The company plans to continue consolidating AI capabilities across the entire SK Group as part of its “self-strengthening” efforts, while also advancing AI technology by strengthening partnerships with domestic and international AI players under its “collaboration” strategy. Through these dual approaches, SKT aims to build a uniquely “Korean AI ecosystem.”

On the “Self-strengthening” front, SKT plans to complete the development of “A.X 4.0,” the latest version of its proprietary LLM “A.X,” by the first half of 2025. Throughout the year, SKT will further enhance the competitiveness of A.X, focusing on areas such as conversational AI and multimodal capabilities. A.X has already fully replaced ChatGPT for AI-powered call summarization on A. call and is driving productivity gains in diverse fields, including government administrative services and marketing. As a result, A.X now handles over 50 million requests daily, serving as a key driver in the spread of AI adoption. Additionally, the SK AI R&D Center, launched by SKT at the end of last year, acts as the group’s “AI brain,” playing a central role in driving next-generation AI technology development and innovation.

On the “Collaboration” front, SKT continues to build partnerships and invest with companies both in Korea and overseas. The Global Telco AI Alliance has held its annual meeting at MWC25 in March and unveiled a new logo representing “Telco-AI Synergy,” further strengthening the alliance. The member companies plan to expand cooperation in areas such as Agentic AI and AI infrastructure. Domestically, SKT leads the K-AI Alliance, Korea’s flagship AI coalition, working with 30 innovative AI startups to co-develop technologies and business opportunities, and to showcase Korea’s AI capabilities globally. SKT is also actively strengthening global partnerships and making proactive investments in leading AI companies such as Anthropic, Perplexity, Lambda, and Penguin Solutions.

ESG Vision

SKT is committed to ESG management and aims to realize its “DO THE GOOD AI” vision by integrating AI across all areas of environment, society, and governance. Through this initiative, SKT seeks to build an AI-powered world that delivers positive impact for humanity across both business and broader society. The newly introduced ESG vision, “DO THE GOOD AI,” is structured around three key areas: “DO AI,” “T.H.E. AI,” and “GOOD AI.” “DO AI” focuses on enhancing the competitiveness of telecommunications and technology through AI. “T.H.E. AI” (By Telco. For Humanity. With Ethics AI), introduced in March 2024, serves as the SKT’s AI governance framework and is designed to ensure the reliability and safety of AI technologies. “GOOD AI” reflects the company’s commitment to ESG principles to make a positive contribution to the world with AI.

Financial Results

Driven by balanced growth across both mobile & fixed telecommunications and AI business, SKT recorded a consolidated revenue of KRW 17.9406 trillion and an operating profit of KRW 1.8234 trillion in 2024, representing YoY increases of 1.9% and 4.0%, respectively. Net income for the year came in at KRW 1.4388 trillion.

On a non-consolidated basis, SKT recorded an annual revenue of KRW 12.7741 trillion and an operating profit of KRW 1.5232 trillion, representing YoY increases of 1.5% and 4.6%, respectively. Net income on a non-consolidated basis was KRW 1.3322 trillion.

Business Areas and Affiliates

History