South Korea Launches HINT Forum to Build National AI Backbone for High-Speed Data Center Connectivity
June 24, 2026
South Korea Launches HINT Forum to Build National AI Backbone for High-Speed Data Center Connectivity
South Korea is accelerating efforts to build next-generation digital infrastructure for the artificial intelligence era, with researchers launching a new initiative to strengthen high-speed connectivity across the nation's expanding AI ecosystem. The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) announced the formation of the Hyper-service Interconnect (HINT) Forum, a collaborative platform designed to advance research, ecosystem development, and standardization in inter-data-center networking.
As generative AI and large-scale foundation models continue to grow, the ability to share computing power and transfer massive volumes of data in real time has become increasingly critical. Technologies capable of delivering ultra-high bandwidth, ultra-low latency, and lossless transmission are emerging as essential components of AI infrastructure. The HINT Forum was established to accelerate progress across a broad range of domains, including AI data center networks, national core and backbone communications infrastructure, metro and access networks, and industrial convergence environments supporting smart manufacturing and autonomous mobility.
The performance of AI systems is no longer determined solely by the power of GPUs or advanced semiconductors. Even the largest computing clusters can experience significant performance bottlenecks if data movement between processors and facilities cannot keep pace with growing workloads. Global technology leaders such as NVIDIA, Google, Microsoft, and Meta increasingly view connectivity as a strategic asset in large-scale AI deployment. Industry analysts now regard digital connectivity, alongside semiconductors and power systems, as one of the three pillars shaping national AI leadership.
ETRI researchers are developing a range of technologies to support this vision, including ultra-low-latency, lossless, high-bandwidth optical packet transport systems between AI facilities, and AI workload-driven open transport network fabric operating systems. The institute expects these efforts to strengthen South Korea’s AI infrastructure and improve its ability to support next-generation AI services. ETRI is also participating in the Ministry of Science and ICT’s Data Center Network Infrastructure Leadership Program, which includes research into horizontal expansion of AI resources across multiple facilities and optical-network-based scale-up and scale-out architectures. This project represents a shift beyond isolated data-center operations toward a model in which geographically distributed computing resources operate as a single integrated platform.
Competition in AI connectivity now extends beyond technology development to the race for global standards. The United States, China, and major European economies are actively pursuing leadership in AI networking architectures and optical transport technologies. Through collaboration among industry, academia, and research institutions, the HINT Forum aims to strengthen South Korea’s influence in global standards development while supporting domestic companies seeking opportunities in emerging AI infrastructure markets.
ETRI hosted the inaugural HINT Forum General Assembly and Workshop at Gonjiam Resort in Gyeonggi Province on June 11–12. Approximately 90 experts from industry, academia, and research institutions attended the event. In addition to the forum’s official launch, participants held a kickoff meeting for the AI Data Center Network Consortium and shared insights on technology trends, research programs, and standardization strategies. The event also included a plaque presentation ceremony recognizing organizations designated by the Ministry of Science and ICT as specialized research centers for data-center networking.
Kang Tae-gyu, Principal Researcher at ETRI and Chair of the HINT Forum Organizing Committee, said that efficient connectivity would become as important as computing resources in determining national competitiveness in the AI era. “Beyond computing power itself, the ability to connect resources efficiently will become a decisive factor in national competitiveness,” Kang said. “We hope the HINT Forum will establish itself as a leading platform for AI networking technologies and standards development in Korea.” The forum is supported by the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) under the Ministry of Science and ICT’s ICT Standardization Support Program and plans to promote the commercialization of domestic AI networking technologies while expanding participation in international standards activities.
The AI race is increasingly shifting from a contest over raw computing power to one centered on how effectively nations can orchestrate and utilize distributed compute capacity. The launch of the HINT Forum signals South Korea’s ambition not only to develop advanced AI semiconductors, but also to build the digital backbone required to support the next generation of national-scale AI systems.
Source: koreaittimes
