SKT Posts KRW 552.3 Billion Operating Profit in Q3, Accelerates AIDC Expansion

SKT announced on the 4th that it posted improved results in the third quarter of 2026, supported by a recovery in its telecommunications business. On a consolidated basis, third-quarter sales came to KRW 4.4973 trillion, operating profit to KRW 552.3 billion, and net income to KRW 411.8 billion. Sales rose 13.1% from a year earlier and 3.2% from the previous quarter. Operating profit remained in the KRW 500 billion range for the third consecutive quarter. On a separate basis, sales were KRW 3.1563 trillion, operating profit KRW 413.5 billion, and net income KRW 298.9 billion. The third-quarter dividend was KRW 830 per share, and the KRW 830 per-share dividend was maintained following the first and second quarters this year.

The telecommunications business continued to recover. Wireless operations saw sales gradually rebound as marketing shifted to focus on LTV. Fixed-line telecommunications sales rose 7.4% from a year earlier, helped by an increase in high-speed internet subscribers.

SKT is accelerating the expansion of its AIDC business. To that end, it has launched a dedicated organization. It is also pushing ahead with the buildout of new data centers with a capacity of 180MW in Ulsan and Seoul.

SKT is also strengthening the foundation of its AI infrastructure business, including AIDC. This reflects a trend of simultaneously expanding AI infrastructure while the telecommunications business recovers.

The focus is on SKT's AI infrastructure business segment. To push ahead with its AIDC business in earnest, SKT launched SK hyper on July and SK horizon on August. With the launch of SK hyper and SK horizon, it established an AIDC promotion system. SK hyper and SK horizon are core to the AIDC business.

SKT is responsible for strategy formulation, risk management, and global cooperation for the AIDC business. SK hyper is in charge of business development. SK horizon is responsible for infrastructure operations and expansion. This division of roles has created a structure that links data center buildout and operations into a single system. As a result, it is enhancing the execution capabilities of the AIDC business.

Under this system, infrastructure expansion is now under way in earnest. SK horizon is building new data centers in the Ulsan and Seoul areas. The new data centers will have a capacity of about 180㎿. SK horizon also plans to gradually expand its submarine cable business.

SK hyper is discussing potential customers and conditions centered on Ulsan. If finalized, it plans to push ahead with rapid infrastructure development based on secured land.

SKT's AI service business is on track. SKT is expanding the application of its proprietary AI foundation model to A-dot and work AI services, and it is pursuing the establishment of the country's largest AI service ecosystem by joining 'Modu-ui AI' and combining its telecommunications and AI capabilities.

Park Jong-seok, SKT CFO, said the company was able to secure both recovery and growth results on the basis of its two pillars, telecommunications and AI. He added that it would continue efforts to expand synergies by linking the telecommunications and AI businesses into a single growth strategy.

Source: TECHWORLD · Kim Hye-jin
Original: https://www.epnc.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=409247

References

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