Plans for a 260MW data center in South Korea have been announced.
Metavisio Thomson Computing, a French IT company, this week announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of a large-scale data center in Gangwon Province.
Announced on the Euronext stock exchange, the MoU was between Metavisio Thomson Computing’s subsidiary Technology 1 Thomson Computing and South Korean energy company BKB Energy Co., Ltd. (BKB).
The project, based at a Yeongwol-gun mining site in Gangwon Province, will leverage a 260MW power supply validated by Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), along with an ongoing feasibility study and environmental assessment.
Up to $900 million will be invested in convertible bonds issued by BKB Energy within the next six months to fully fund the project. The companies will set up a 50:50 joint venture for the project, known as Technology 1 Thomson Computing Korea.
"This project aligns with Metavisio Thomson Computing's strategy to develop high-performance computing infrastructures and strengthen its role in artificial intelligence and cloud computing technologies,” said Stéphan Français, president of Metavisio Thomson Computing. “Through our partnership with BKB Energy, we are contributing to an innovative and sustainable data center project in South Korea.”
Metavisio will supply strategic components, including GPUs and CPUs, via its supplier network. The company recently signed a contract with Turboscale, an official distributor of Nvidia GPU/CPU solutions.
Metavisio Thomson said it has been expanding its IT offerings since mid-2024, including developing a server range and forming partnerships with data center infrastructure specialists.
Si Woo Chung, president of BKB Energy Co., Ltd., added: "We are excited to collaborate with Metavisio Thomson Computing on this high-potential project, combining energy expertise with technological innovation. This partnership represents a major step forward in developing South Korea's digital infrastructure.”
BKB was founded as Woohwa Construction in 1987, and rebranded in 2001. It is involved in gas, coal, and hydro power plant construction across Asia and Africa.
The original Thomson was founded in France back in 1883. The company developed microcomputers in the 1980s. Its SIMIV unit went bankrupt in the late 1980s, with the parent eventually becoming Technicolor and later Vantiva.
Today, Thomson is a registered trademark of Talisman Brands, Inc. and is used under license by Metavisio to sell laptops and other IT equipment.
