NAVER has signed a contract with Brookfield to secure artificial intelligence (AI) computing infrastructure worth USD 9 billion (approximately KRW 12 trillion). With the fulfillment of the precedent conditions for NVIDIA’s planned USD 1 billion strategic equity investment, the 1-gigawatt (GW)-class global AI factory project jointly pursued by the three companies has entered full-scale implementation.

NAVER on the 27th submitted a revised disclosure of its “Future Business and Management Plan” reflecting these details. This specifies the computing infrastructure procurement plan that had been under discussion with Brookfield at the time of the June 8 disclosure, updating it to reflect the completion of the contract.

Under the agreement, the computing infrastructure required to build the AI factory will be provided through the establishment of an investment purpose company, tentatively named “Asset Co,” by the Brookfield AI Infrastructure Fund. NAVER Cloud will then use this infrastructure. NAVER Cloud plans to receive GPU-based computing resource services (GPUaaS) from Asset Co and provide AI data center services to its customers.

Although Asset Co will be established with 100% equity contributed by an investment purpose company on the Brookfield side, it will be consolidated as a NAVER subsidiary, as NAVER’s control over the entity is recognized under Korean International Financial Reporting Standards (K-IFRS).

NAVER will lead the acquisition, construction, and operation of data center sites, while NVIDIA will participate in the project as the main supplier of GPUs. NVIDIA plans to participate in a third-party paid-in capital increase of approximately USD 1 billion in NAVER common shares.

The tentative phased infrastructure build-out plan calls for 55 megawatts (MW) in the first half of 2027, reaching a cumulative 100 MW by the end of the same year and 200 MW cumulative by 2028. Over the longer term, the company aims to build GW-class infrastructure. NAVER plans to use its hyperscale data center “GAK Sejong” as the initial hub and then expand its business footprint from the Asia-Pacific region to Europe, the Middle East, and other global regions.

Technology cooperation will also continue. NAVER and NVIDIA have agreed to promote higher operational efficiency and profitability of data centers through the introduction of the next-generation infrastructure platform “DSX.”

NAVER expects that this business collaboration will enable it to secure a new revenue source based on AI factory operations by meeting global AI infrastructure demand. The company also plans to use its partnership with NVIDIA to secure the latest computing service infrastructure and explore additional business cooperation opportunities going forward.

However, there are also potential obstacles, including uncertainty in regulatory environments such as securing overseas data center sites and obtaining permits in each country, possible delays in securing power infrastructure, and fluctuations in global AI infrastructure supply and demand. NAVER stated, “During the detailed contract negotiation process, there is a possibility of changes in conditions or schedule delays,” adding, “If such factors arise, we will respond by adjusting the phased schedule and investment scale.”

Popular News