ETRI launches AI high-speed network ecosystem initiative

The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) is embarking on an effort to build a high-speed network ecosystem — a core infrastructure for the AI era.

ETRI will pursue technology development to connect data centers faster and more efficiently, along with network standardization and industry cooperation.

Next-generation network technology supporting ultra-fast, ultra-low-latency and high-capacity connectivity is drawing attention as critical infrastructure for the AI era.

To advance such technology and foster standardization cooperation, ETRI said it has launched the Hyper-service Interconnect (HINT) Forum.

The HINT Forum was established to research next-generation interconnect technologies across a range of fields — including AI data center (AIDC) networks, core and backbone networks that form the spine of national telecommunications infrastructure, access and metro networks linking users and services, and industrial convergence networks used in smart factories and autonomous driving applications — and to pursue domestic and international standardization activities.

ETRI is developing three technologies: ultra-low-latency, lossless, high-bandwidth packet optical transport networks between AI data centers; an open transport network fabric operating system based on AI workloads; and AI data center network ecosystem building and standardization technology.

ETRI held the HINT Forum's founding general assembly and workshop on June 11 and 12.

Industry, academic and research experts who attended shared trends in AI data center network technology, the status of research and development projects, and standardization strategies, while discussing ways to expand cooperation across the three sectors.

Kang Tae-gyu, an ETRI principal researcher and chair of the HINT Forum's founding preparatory committee, said network technology that efficiently connects computing resources will be just as decisive as the resources themselves in determining national competitiveness in the AI era. "I hope the HINT Forum will establish itself as a cooperative platform that leads the domestic AI network technology and standardization ecosystem," he said.