[Edaily Reporter Yun Junghoon ]KTCorporation(030200)is joining forces with domestic AI semiconductor (NPU) startups and device specialists to fully enter the on-device AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) market.

KTCorporation announced on the 31st that it has signed a “Tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Cooperation on NPU-Based On-Device AIoT Business” with DeepX, a company specializing in NPUs, and Sesol, a company specializing in AI Edge Boxes.

The signing ceremony, held in Seoul that day, was attended by key representatives from each company, including Seong Je-hyun, Executive Vice President and Head of the Seoul Metropolitan Area Gangbuk Corporate Customer Division at KTCorporation’s Enterprise Division; Kim Nok-won, CEO of DeepX; and Lee Tae-heon, CEO of Sesol.

This collaboration was initiated to jointly develop next-generation “AI Edge Boxes” utilizing NPUs—which feature low power consumption and low heat generation—and to expand on-device AI services to industrial sites where real-time AI video analysis is essential, such as electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, mobile CCTV systems, and transportation infrastructure. An AI Edge Box is a compact AI computing device that directly analyzes and processes data generated on-site in real time.

Through this MOU, the three companies agreed to: △jointly develop NPU-based AI Edge Boxes; △jointly pursue on-device AIoT business initiatives; △expand the AI video surveillance market for transportation infrastructure, including EV charging stations and buses; and △revitalize the domestic AI Edge ecosystem.

They also clearly defined their respective roles. KTCorporation will oversee the commercialization and market expansion of the AI Edge Box service, leveraging its unrivaled network infrastructure, monitoring platforms, and business development capabilities. DeepX will supply its proprietary low-power NPU chip (DX-M1) and software development kit (SDK), while Sesol will be responsible for developing, manufacturing, and conducting field validation of the AI Edge Boxes equipped with these components.

The AI Edge Box being developed is characterized by a significant reduction in power consumption and heat generation compared to existing graphics processing unit (GPU)-based devices. As a result, high-performance, real-time AI video analysis services are expected to become feasible even in various industrial settings that previously faced difficulties in adopting AI due to power supply or installation space constraints.

KTCorporation plans to use this collaboration as a starting point to aggressively expand its on-device AIoT B2B (business-to-business) business, focusing on public institutions, local governments, and the transportation and industrial safety sectors.

Seong Je-hyun, Senior Vice President and Head of the Seoul Metropolitan Area Gangbuk Corporate Customer Division at KTCorporation’s Enterprise Division, stated, “This agreement is a strategic partnership aimed at securing a leading position in the next-generation AI video analytics market by combining AI semiconductors and AI Edge technology with KTCorporation’s network and AI service capabilities.” He added, “We will provide stable and efficient AI services to various industrial sites requiring real-time AI video analytics and contribute to revitalizing the domestic on-device AIoT market.”