Korean suppliers win North American data-center power and optics deals

Korean industrial suppliers are pulling in a run of large power and photonics orders tied to the North American artificial-intelligence data-center buildout, with three companies disclosing contracts this month that cite data-center electricity distribution and optical interconnect hardware as their subject.

LS Electric Co. said it will supply switchgear for a North American data center under a 168.9 billion won ($126 million) contract with its American subsidiary, LS ELECTRIC AMERICA Inc. The deal covers switchboards for a hyperscale data-center power project in the United States, running from this month to Dec. 31 next year, and equals 3.4 percent of LS Electric's 4.97 trillion won ($3.7 billion) in revenue at the end of 2025. The company said it had already booked $115 million of that 2026 delivery volume.

LS Electric's North American big-tech data-center bookings grew from about 800 billion won ($596 million) in 2025 to about 1.2 trillion won ($894 million) in the first half of 2026, according to LS Holdings. In October the company disclosed a $138 million deal with Bloom Energy for switchboards and distribution transformers for a Pennsylvania data center, with delivery in April to July 2027.

"The US data-center market is seeing rapid expansion of distribution infrastructure investment as AI spreads and power demand rises," an LS Electric official said, adding that the company would lean on local supply chains, partnerships and next-generation direct-current technology to win more large North American orders.

Wooriro Co. disclosed a 22.8 billion won ($17 million) contract to supply optical semiconductors for data centers to Wuhan ETERN Optoelectronics Group Limited in China, worth 53.6 percent of its 42.5 billion won ($31.6 million) in revenue, with delivery running to Dec. 30, 2028. Wooriro makes planar lightwave circuit splitters and photodiodes for data centers and 5G networks; photodiodes have grown from 11.7 percent of company revenue in 2024 to 22.8 percent in the first half of 2026.

Daehan Electric Co. disclosed a 116.8 billion won ($87 million) contract to supply extra-high-voltage cable and related materials to its US subsidiary, TAIHAN ELECTRIC USA LTD., for a North American grid project through Dec. 31, 2028. The subsidiary runs the turnkey project; the parent produces the materials. Daehan has won about 100 billion won ($74.5 million) of US turnkey projects this year and holds a record 4.06 trillion won ($3.03 billion) order backlog.

"With AI data centers spreading and grid investment expanding, the market for extra-high-voltage and submarine cable is entering full-scale growth," a Daehan official said.

LS Electric's and Daehan's contracts are with their own subsidiaries, so the disclosed amounts measure internal supply rather than end-customer revenue; Daehan said the ultimate client and full turnkey value are covered by a non-disclosure agreement. Wooriro's contract runs to a Chinese buyer and is more than half its annual revenue.