SKT accelerates its metaverse expansion in Asia with Telcos and AI.

SK Telecom (SKT) is looking to establish a strong presence in the metaverse space with its platform, ifland. To expand its reach in the Asia Pacific region, SKT has formed new partnerships in Malaysia and the Philippines, as part of its broader goal of becoming a global leader in immersive experiences.

The South Korean operator has announced in a translated statement that it has teamed up with Malaysian telco CelcomDigi and Philippine IoT platform, Cherry, to enhance ifland for the local markets. The focus will be on local brand partnerships, tailored marketing strategies, and offering primary customer support in each market to accelerate the platform’s expansion in southeast Asia.

CelcomDigi had previously partnered with SKT on metaverse projects, collaborating on ifland’s expansion and new business ideas. The head of SK Telecom’s metaverse division sees Malaysia and the Philippines as key markets for ifland’s international growth plans. By working with local companies and integrating AI technology, the aim is to evolve into a ‘global AI metaverse’.

CelcomDigi’s chief innovation officer highlighted the companies’ commitment to innovation and enhancing customer value in the metaverse through network technology and AI solutions. Beyond the Asia Pacific region, SKT is exploring partnerships in the Americas with a focus on the convergence of metaverse and AI technologies.

SKT plans to enhance the user experience by adding support for additional languages and introducing a feature for personalized content recommendations based on user characteristics by region. The company’s metaverse partners also include Singtel, e&, and Deutsche Telekom.

– Yanitsa Boyadzhieva, Deputy Editor, TelecomTV