The Ministry of Science and ICT announced on June 8 that it has selected Naver Cloud, Samsung SDS, and Alice Group to participate in a project to secure, build, and support advanced graphics processing units (GPUs) worth approximately 2 trillion won (about $1.5 billion).
The ministry plans to collaborate with the selected cloud service providers (CSPs) to acquire and establish a total of 9,704 advanced GPUs to support AI innovation in both the private and public sectors.
The GPUs to be secured include 2,016 Vera Rubin units and 7,688 B300 units. Naver Cloud will acquire 1,008 Vera Rubin units and 3,112 B300 units, Samsung SDS will secure 1,008 Vera Rubin units and 2,016 B300 units, while Alice Group plans to acquire 2,560 B300 units.
Notably, the next-generation Vera Rubin GPUs feature improved bandwidth and processing speeds compared to previous models. This enhancement is expected to reduce data bottlenecks and enable the processing of more user requests simultaneously, thereby decreasing the time and costs associated with AI model training.
The Ministry of Science and ICT intends to utilize 2,016 Vera Rubin units and 4,360 B300 units to support the development of independent AI foundation models, national AI projects, and the advancement of AI models and services in collaboration with industry and academia.
The ministry plans to initiate GPU purchase orders with the selected CSPs this month, aiming to sequentially launch B300 services by the end of the year as the CSPs complete their installations. The rollout of the Vera Rubin GPUs is scheduled for the first half of 2027, considering the release timeline.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and ICT Lee Kwang-hoon stated, "The advanced GPUs we are securing, including Vera Rubin, will be a key driver in enhancing the speed of AI research and development and our technological capabilities. We will secure AI infrastructure to support innovation and growth among domestic companies and research institutions."
Additionally, the ministry has announced plans to secure a total of 260,000 GPUs by 2030 to achieve AI G3 status. Since February, the government has begun distributing approximately 4,000 of the 10,000 GPUs it initially secured to domestic companies and research institutions.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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