LG Uplus to Build 'Pyeongchon2 Center' IDC Equivalent to 6 Soccer Fields

[Asia Economy Reporter Joeslgina] LG Uplus is building the Pyeongchon 2 Center (tentative name), an internet data center (IDC) with a scale equivalent to six soccer fields, in Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do.

LG Uplus announced on the 13th that it has started construction of the new IDC, Pyeongchon 2 Center, aiming for completion in the third quarter of 2023. The Pyeongchon 2 Center being built this time has a total floor area of 40,450㎡, roughly the size of six soccer fields. It is a hyperscale-level facility operating more than 100,000 servers, with three basement floors and nine above-ground floors, making it the seventh IDC in the metropolitan area.

LG Uplus began its IDC business in 1999 by establishing Korea’s first dedicated IDC in Nonhyeon-dong, Seoul. The Pyeongchon 2 Center is the second hyperscale IDC to be built following the Pyeongchon Mega Center. This is a response to the rapidly increasing demand for data centers due to companies’ cloud transitions and the expansion of online services.

A major feature of LG Uplus’s Pyeongchon 2 Center is the provision of customized services for customers. Through this, the company plans to create loyal fans of LG Uplus among corporate clients.

First, customer requests were reflected even at the design stage. The double-floor space, which allows cold air to flow beneath the floor where servers are placed, was removed, and a new air conditioning system that supplies cold air directly to the servers was implemented to maintain uniform temperature within the server room and minimize hotspots where temperatures are higher at specific points. The company explained that the absence of a double-floor structure makes work inside the data center more convenient, which is preferred by customers.

It is also possible to provide various rack power capacities according to customer requirements. By supplying up to 20kW per rack through 154kV power reception from Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), tailored to customer demands and equipment characteristics, the company plans to enhance customers’ convenience for expansion.

Geographical proximity has also been secured. Located in Anyang-si, the Pyeongchon 2 Center offers easy access via public transportation and is within 30 minutes of major areas such as Gangnam, Gasan Digital Complex, and Pangyo Digital Valley, providing optimal location conditions. Additionally, it is situated 300 meters from the country’s largest Pyeongchon Mega Center, offering cost-saving advantages on operating and line expenses for tenants moving into the new IDC.

Furthermore, to address security concerns, the office building and data center building are physically separated to enhance security, and a five-level security system is established from the center entrance to the data room.

The Pyeongchon 2 Center plans to provide 100% uninterrupted data center services to tenant companies through Tier-IV level power and cooling system redundancy, exceeding the Tier-III availability of the Pyeongchon Mega Center. Tier certification, conducted by Uptime Institute in the U.S., evaluates the configuration level of key data center infrastructure, with higher grades indicating greater IDC stability.

From the initial planning stage, LG Uplus leads ESG activities in the IDC sector by building a center that reduces energy consumption, expands the use of renewable energy, and applies eco-friendly elements. Through this, it can save 140GWh of energy, equivalent to the annual consumption of about 100,000 people, reduce carbon emissions by 65,000 tons, and achieve the effect of planting approximately 900,000 pine trees.

To reduce energy consumption, an outside air cooling system is applied that introduces cold external air into the data room to remove server heat, and wind ducts are installed to facilitate smooth airflow of heated air after outside air cooling. Additionally, a high ceiling of 6.9 meters and enhanced wall insulation will improve cooling efficiency.

Renewable energy use will also be increased. The office building will utilize geothermal energy for heating and cooling, and renewable energy systems such as solar power facilities and fuel cells will reduce IDC power consumption. Moreover, a system to monitor water usage for cooling and humidification will be established to optimize water consumption.

Im Jang-hyuk, Executive Director of LG Uplus’s Infrastructure Business Group, said, “The demand for high-density data centers is steadily increasing due to companies’ DX transitions,” adding, “We plan to continuously secure competitiveness in the IDC business by leveraging over 20 years of accumulated know-how since starting Korea’s first IDC business in 1999 and experience attracting major domestic and international IT companies.”

Meanwhile, LG Uplus IDC recorded sales of 227.8 billion KRW in 2020, growing at an average annual rate of about 10% over the past five years, and is expected to continue growing in 2021.