Samsung SDS is set to transform the next-generation network platform at Seoul National University, showcasing its extensive artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and network capabilities.
On August 24, Samsung SDS announced it has secured a project to implement a "next-generation network platform for an intelligent campus" at Seoul National University.
This initiative aims to establish a foundation for converting the university into an "AI Native Campus" optimized for the AI era, building a high-performance network infrastructure necessary for AI research and education.
The project will enhance the quality of both wired and wireless networks across 243 buildings, serving approximately 50,000 users. Plans include transitioning to an ultra-high-speed, high-bandwidth network environment capable of 800Gbps to facilitate rapid data transfer for AI research.
Additionally, the project will focus on strengthening security through logical network separation and automating network operations, aiming to improve both stability and management efficiency.
The company anticipates significant improvements in network services for students, faculty, researchers, and staff, minimizing speed reductions and interruptions during network access while providing a user-friendly environment for service requests.
Students will benefit from stable network access in classrooms, laboratories, and libraries. Faculty and researchers will be able to transmit large-scale AI training and research data quickly and reliably, facilitating data-intensive AI research.
IT personnel will reduce operational burdens by automating repetitive tasks such as user device authentication and network service provision. An intelligent management environment will also be established to detect network failures and anomalies, enabling efficient management of the large campus network with limited operational staff.
Samsung SDS plans to apply its experience and technology gained from implementing a "Software Defined Network (SDN)" used by over 80,000 users across 13 global locations to the next-generation network at Seoul National University.
SDN technology allows for centralized control and operation of the entire network through software, enabling consistent management of network policies and services while automating network configurations based on user requests. Previously, network devices were configured and managed individually.
Samsung SDS stated, "Based on our SDN capabilities, we plan to integrate and manage Seoul National University's large-scale campus network as a single system, supporting rapid service delivery and operational efficiency."
In this project, Samsung SDS will implement software-based network separation to enhance the security level of the campus network.
Networks with different purposes and characteristics, such as research, administration, and education, will be logically separated to limit unnecessary access between areas and minimize the risk of security threats spreading from one area to another. The network policies can also be flexibly applied based on user and task characteristics, effectively responding to the collaborative environment of universities with external institutions and companies.
A user-centric network automation portal linked with SDN will also be introduced. Users will be able to directly request tasks such as IP issuance, device registration, and new network applications for research purposes through the portal, with network configurations automatically reflecting predefined policies and procedures.
As AI services rapidly expand, the importance of network infrastructure that can quickly connect and operate high-performance computing resources, such as graphics processing units (GPUs), and large volumes of data is increasing.
Samsung SDS plans to continue strengthening its next-generation network business that supports AI transformation in enterprises, public institutions, and educational and medical organizations, leveraging its extensive experience in large-scale network operations and SDN automation.
Go Gil-gon, head of the Information Technology Division at Seoul National University, stated, "Through this project, we will secure a foundation for an intelligent campus and accelerate digital and AI innovation across education, research, and administration. We aim to realize our vision of becoming a global leader in AI education through network improvements that satisfy all members of our community."
Lee Jeong-heon, Vice President and Head of Strategic Marketing at Samsung SDS, said, "We aim to create a stable and convenient intelligent campus environment based on Samsung SDS's large-scale SDN design, construction, and operational capabilities, making it a standard model for universities worldwide."
Recently, Samsung SDS has been expanding its AI infrastructure business, covering everything from AI computing resources to data centers and networks. As the leading company in a consortium, it is building a national AI computing center in Haenam, Jeonnam, and plans to establish a large-scale public AI infrastructure with 15,000 AI semiconductors by 2028. With the recent contract with Seoul National University, Samsung SDS is broadening its business foundation in the high-performance network sector that supports AI research and education, following its establishment of large-scale AI computing infrastructure.
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.