Summary:
1. South Korean tech company NAVER is partnering with NVIDIA, Nexus Core Systems, and Lloyd Capital to build a large-scale AI data center in Morocco to meet the growing demand for AI computing services in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
2. The data center will reach a capacity of 500 megawatts and operate on renewable energy, reflecting sustainability goals and regulatory requirements in the region.
3. The project aims to create a sovereign AI and cloud infrastructure to handle data storage, processing, and deployment locally, positioning NAVER as a key player in the global AI market.
Article:
South Korean technology giant NAVER is set to expand its global footprint in cloud and AI infrastructure with the construction of a state-of-the-art AI data center in Morocco. Teaming up with NVIDIA, Nexus Core Systems, and Lloyd Capital, the collaboration aims to address the increasing demand for autonomous AI computing services across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA).
The planned data center will have a capacity of 500 megawatts and will operate entirely on renewable energy sources, aligning with sustainability goals and regional regulations. The strategic choice of Morocco as the location for the facility, only 15 kilometers from Europe and well-connected by subsea fiber-optic cables, played a crucial role in the selection process.
NAVER Cloud, Nexus Core Systems, and Lloyd Capital will jointly manage the data center, providing an integrated platform for AI services and applications. By focusing on creating a sovereign AI and cloud infrastructure capable of handling data storage, processing, and deployment locally, the project aligns with Europe’s increasing emphasis on data sovereignty and digital autonomy.
The construction of the data center is set to commence in Q4 2025, with an initial deployment of 40 megawatts of supercomputing power utilizing NVIDIA’s latest Blackwell (GB200) GPUs. The facility is expected to gradually scale up to its full 500 MW capacity, with a renewable energy supply agreement in place with TAQA to ensure access to clean electricity for the long term.
This strategic move by NAVER aims to extend its AI and cloud technologies beyond its current markets in Japan, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Chae Seon-ju, head of Strategic Business at NAVER, highlighted the significance of the collaboration in reaching the European market and strengthening capabilities to maintain a leading position in the global AI value chain.
Emphasizing its end-to-end AI capabilities, from data handling and cloud infrastructure to supercomputing and AI services, NAVER is poised to meet European demands for technological sovereignty and secure, autonomous infrastructure effectively.
