LG U+ is looking to catch up with Korean telecom rivals in AI, launching an ambitious AI-powered enterprise services strategy. 2 trillion won (1.4 billion dollars) Annual revenue is expected to reach $10 billion by 2028.
The South Korean telecommunications company revealed its goal of becoming an “AI business” in its mid- to long-term growth strategy dubbed “All in AI.” The name signifies that LG Uplus will “focus the entire company's capabilities on AI and apply AI to all services to grow together with corporate customers,” said Kwon Young-hyun, head of the company's enterprise services division.
As part of this strategy, the company aims to develop and deploy AI infrastructure (including data centers) and generative AI platforms (large-scale language models) and position itself as a leading AI operator in the enterprise (B2B) services sector.
The company explained that it plans to focus on providing AI-enabled services in four specific service areas: AI Contact Center (AICC), enterprise customer communications, device applications for small and medium-sized enterprises, and transportation. In a statement (Korean).
The AICC division will be leveraging Exigen, a small-scale language model (sLLM). Released in JuneAccording to the company, this provides answers tailored to the customer's industry sector and installs customized industry-specific functionality.
In the area of corporate customer communication, LG Uplus plans to launch products later this year that integrate AI into all customer communication channels in order to improve operational efficiency and enhance competitiveness while reducing costs.
The company plans to offer advanced packages to small and medium-sized businesses that integrate on-device AI into a range of hardware products including kiosks, CCTV systems and phones.
In the transportation sector, LG Uplus will introduce AI into its cargo transport services to assist with booking, dispatch, and payment functions.
The foundation of the company's efforts will be its AI data center (AIDC) facilities and on-device AI applications, all of which it plans to develop in partnership with “leading domestic and international companies.”
The company's home-grown Exigen LLM will play a key role in the services offered from its AIDC facility, and the company claims to be the only operator in South Korea with three hyperscale data centers (two currently in operation and one under development).
As part of its on-device AI strategy, the company plans to develop AI semiconductors by combining the capabilities of Exigen and domestic chip design company DeepX later this year to provide chips at lower prices and with faster time to market than existing AI semiconductors. The company also plans to utilize on-device AI solutions across its businesses.
LG Uplus plans to develop Exigen by offering industry-specific versions for verticals such as finance, education, security, etc. The scale of the sLLM will vary depending on customer requirements.
The company said it is seeking “full cooperation” with companies and research institutions that provide AI solutions and platforms to build an AI ecosystem.
LG U+, South Korea's third-largest telecommunications company, appears to be lagging somewhat behind its competitors in terms of AI exploration and implementation, while market leader SK Telecom (SKT) has announced ambitious plans to become an “AI company.” November 2022 Announced a three-tiered pyramid strategy September 2023The country's other major telecommunications company, KT, has set a goal of “reinventing itself as an AICT company,” as stated by its CEO at MWC Barcelona this year. Mid-February.
– Yanitsa Boyadzhieva, Deputy Editor, TelecomTV
