SEOUL — KT Corporation, South Korea’s leading telecommunications and ICT powerhouse, has announced a strategic alliance with Databricks, the Data and AI company, to drive a transformative wave of data and AI innovation across Korea. The collaboration marks a significant milestone in both companies’ missions to modernize data infrastructure and enable advanced AI solutions tailored to Korea’s unique needs.

Building an AI-Powered Future

With a rich legacy spanning nearly 140 years in telecommunications, KT Corporation is a key player in shaping South Korea’s technological landscape. Known for its cutting-edge advancements in 5G technology and intelligent networks, KT is now heavily investing in AI and embarking on an AI transformation (AX) journey. At the core of this initiative is the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform, which will serve as the foundation for KT’s scalable and future-ready data and AI services.

Key Elements of the Partnership

1. Development of a Robust Data and AI Platform:
KT will modernize its data infrastructure using the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform, which unifies data and AI capabilities on a lakehouse architecture. This approach enables KT to seamlessly integrate analytics and AI models, empowering its business units with tailored, data-driven insights.

2. Expanding AI in Korea’s Sovereign Cloud Market:
Databricks will support KT in advancing the Korean public sector and regulated industries, including financial services, through KT’s Secure Public Cloud. Leveraging confidential computing, organizations can securely process sensitive data in the cloud while unlocking AI’s potential.

3. Generative AI Solutions for Industry-Specific Use Cases:
Databricks’ end-to-end generative AI capabilities will help KT create AI models customized for the Korean market. These models will address emerging use cases across diverse industries, enabling innovative solutions for local enterprises.

4. Upskilling KT’s Workforce with a Data and AI Center of Excellence:
To ensure the success of its AICT transformation, KT and Databricks will collaborate on establishing a Data and AI Center of Excellence. This initiative will provide KT employees with advanced training in data analytics and AI, fostering a culture of innovation and skill enhancement across the organization.

Leadership Perspectives

Seung-pil Oh, CTO and Head of the Technology Innovation Division at KT, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership:
“By joining forces with Databricks, a global leader in data and AI, we’re enabling our customers to leverage advanced data platforms in a secure and enhanced cloud environment. This partnership underscores KT’s commitment to expanding collaborations with world-class solution providers, both locally and internationally.”

Arsalan Tavakoli, Co-Founder and Senior Vice President for Field Engineering at Databricks, added:
“This partnership signifies a pivotal step in delivering AI-powered data intelligence to Korea’s private and public sectors. We’re thrilled to work with KT in advancing data-driven innovation while empowering their workforce with cutting-edge AI capabilities.”