Macquarie-Gabia Ansan: 100MW AI Data Center South Korea
Status: Announced / Permitting | Location: Ansan, Gyeonggi Province
Project Overview
The Macquarie-Gabia South Korea Hyperscale Platform is a strategic joint venture designed to address the surging demand for AI and sovereign cloud infrastructure in East Asia. Formally launched on March 3, 2026, this partnership between global investor Macquarie Asset Management (via MAIF4) and South Korean cloud leader Gabia Inc. involves a commitment of 600 billion KRW (~$420 million USD). The platform aims to deploy a network of hyperscale facilities across South Korea totaling over 100 MW of capacity.
The first cornerstone project is the Ansan Data Center, a 40 MW facility located 30km south of Seoul. It is engineered as the primary anchor for the "Metropolitan AI Infrastructure Belt," designed to work in tandem with Gabia’s newly completed Gwacheon AI Hub. While Gwacheon focuses on inference and high-density GPU hosting, the Ansan site provides the massive scale needed for foundation model training and cloud-native workloads. By integrating with KINX (Gabia's subsidiary and Korea's only neutral Internet Exchange), the platform offers unrivaled connectivity for both domestic enterprises and global hyperscalers.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | Macquarie-Gabia Ansan: 100MW AI Data Center South Korea |
| Location | Ansan, Gyeonggi Province |
| Status | Announced / Permitting |
| Commissioning | Phase 1 (Ansan): 2027; Platform buildout: 2030 |
| Total IT Load | 40 MW (Ansan Site) |
| Total Capacity | >100 MW (Cumulative Platform Target) |
| Tier Level | Tier III+ Equivalent |
| Project Type | Hyperscale / AI-Ready Infrastructure |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
|---|
| City Name | ansan |
| Population | Approximately 760,000 (as of the latest data). |
| Urban Agglomeration | The metropolitan area around Ansan, which includes nearby cities like Siheung and Hwaseong, has a population exceeding 1.5 million. |
| City GDP | Ansan is an industrial city, contributing significantly to South Korea's manufacturing GDP. Exact GDP figures are not readily available, but it is an essential hub in the Gyeonggi Province's economic structure. |
| Per Capita Income | South Korea’s national per capita income is around $32,000, and Ansan’s per capita is generally in the same range or slightly below due to its industrial character. |
| City Tier | Ansan is generally classified as a 2nd-tier city in South Korea due to its industrial and manufacturing base. |
| Key Strengths | Industry Hub: Ansan has a strong industrial base, particularly in electronics, automotive, and manufacturing. |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Developer / Operator | Joint Venture (MAM + Gabia + KINX) |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | KINX (Korea Internet Neutral Exchange) |
| Construction Contractor | Samsung C&T / Hyundai E&C (Consortium) |
| MEP Engineering | Samsung C&T / Hyundai E&C (Consortium) |
| Network Connectivity | KINX IX / Global CloudHub Fabric |
| Power Infrastructure | KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation) |
Technical Specifications
| Header | Details |
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| Power Capacity | 40 MW (Ansan Site); 100 MW+ (Full Platform) |
| UPS Redundancy | $N+1$ with high-efficiency Modular Lithium-ion UPS |
| Cooling System | AI-Optimized Direct-to-Chip Liquid Cooling & Rear-Door Heat Exchangers |
| Connectivity | Carrier-neutral IX via KINX with direct Cloud on-ramps |
| PUE Target | 1.20 |
| Energy Mix | Transitioning to 100% RE100 via local Solar/Wind PPAs |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Announcement | March 3, 2026 |
| Construction Start | Targeted Q3 2026 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | 2027 |
| Full Buildout | 2030 |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
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| Total Investment | ₩600 Billion (~$420 Million USD) |
| Funding | Macquarie Asia-Pacific Infrastructure Fund 4 (MAIF4) |