LG Uplus will unveil its next-generation AI Data Center (AIDC) strategy at MWC 2026, highlighting synergies across LG Group affiliates under the “ONE LG” collaboration framework. The company plans to introduce a “Beyond AI-Ready” AIDC model that integrates power, cooling and operations to strengthen its competitiveness in the global AI infrastructure market.
At the event, LG Uplus will present advanced technologies and operational strategies to be deployed at the Paju AI Data Center, currently under development as the largest facility of its kind in the Seoul metropolitan area. Scheduled for completion in 2027, the Paju AIDC will incorporate key technologies from LG Uplus, LG Electronics and LG Energy Solution.
To address heat management challenges, LG Uplus is partnering with LG Electronics to implement Direct-to-Chip (D2C) liquid cooling. The system attaches cold plates to high-performance GPUs and circulates coolant through a Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU) to directly remove heat. Internal validation tests showed approximately 24 percent improvement in energy efficiency compared with conventional air cooling. Cooling water will be produced using LG Electronics’ air-cooled free-cooling chillers, which leverage external cold air to reduce power consumption to around 10 percent of traditional systems.
Power stability is also being reinforced. The data center will adopt high-performance UPS batteries from LG Energy Solution, enabling immediate power compensation during outages or voltage fluctuations. Multi-layer safety designs from cell to pack level aim to minimize fire and thermal runaway risks, supporting uninterrupted 24/7 operations.
LG Uplus plans to expand AI computing infrastructure in phases, with the Paju AIDC serving as a strategic hub. In collaboration with asset management firms and other partners, the company will strengthen its integrated consulting services covering design, construction and operation of customized data centers. It is also accelerating development of immersion cooling technology, which submerges servers in non-conductive liquid to prepare for higher GPU performance demands.
Operationally, LG Uplus is leveraging 27 years of experience managing 15 data centers nationwide to establish an end-to-end system spanning design, construction and operations. The company is developing its own AI-based Data Center Infrastructure Management (DCIM) system to analyze power usage, temperature, humidity, cooling status and equipment conditions in real time, optimizing resource allocation. It aims to achieve infrastructure availability of 99.99 percent.
In addition, LG Uplus will introduce a “Sovereign AI Appliance” developed in collaboration with LG AI Research and FuriosaAI. The all-in-one solution enables immediate AI deployment by simply connecting power and network, minimizing complex infrastructure setup.
Ahn Hyung-kyun, Senior Vice President and Head of the AI Business Group at LG Uplus, said the company will combine ONE LG capabilities to develop the Paju AI Data Center into a global-level AI hub. He added that through its Beyond AI-Ready strategy—designed for environments where AI operates continuously—LG Uplus aims to evolve into a stable and scalable AI factory.
