SEOUL, March 04 (AJP) - South Korean telecommunications giants and global infrastructure leaders are shifting the paradigm of artificial intelligence at MWC 2026, moving beyond digital chatbots toward "Physical AI" and hyper-efficient data architectures.
LG Uplus: From voice to humanoid action
LG Uplus (LGU+) unveiled its vision for Physical AI, integrating its proprietary AI call agent, ixi-O, with humanoid robotics. Unlike traditional voice assistants, ixi-O is designed to understand emotional context and execute physical tasks. In a live demonstration, the AI analyzed a sudden business trip schedule during a call, automatically adjusted the user's calendar, and signaled a humanoid robot developed by A-Robot to pack a suitcase. CEO Hong Beom-sik emphasized that voice is the "most human connection," predicting a future where AI agents transition from simple command-following to autonomous environmental interaction.
SK Telecom: Structural innovation in AI data centers
SK Telecom (SKT) is tackling the infrastructure bottlenecks of the AI era through a two-track strategy focusing on "construction" and "connectivity". The company signed a tripartite MOU with Supermicro and Schneider Electric to secure "Pre-fabricated Modular" AI Data Center (DC) solutions, a method that allows pre-designed power and cooling units to be assembled on-site to significantly reduce construction time and costs compared to traditional concrete structures.
In a separate move to solve memory bottlenecks, SKT partnered with Panmnesia to develop a CXL-based (Compute Express Link) architecture. This technology allows CPUs, GPUs, and memory to be flexibly pooled across racks, eliminating the need to purchase expensive GPUs just to expand memory capacity and reducing data latency.
Nokia’s ‘Doksuri’: A nod to Korean engineering
Highlighting the collaborative spirit of the event, Finnish telecommunications leader Nokia introduced its next-generation Remote Radio Head (RRH) named "Doksuri" (Eagle in Korean). According to Cho Bong-yeol, Nokia’s Lead of Product Management, the name represents the "dominance of the skies" and acknowledges the strength of the Korean market.
Powered by Nvidia GPUs, the platform enables telcos to process both communication signals and AI inference on a single unit, maximizing investment efficiency. Nokia also showcased its Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) technology, which turns existing 3.5GHz base stations into radar resources to detect drones without additional hardware.
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