Moving beyond chips and screens: Samsung joins Nvidia and KKR in a massive $1 billion data center infrastructure deal

Samsung has teamed up with five affiliated companies and Nvidia, alongside investment firm KKR, to invest $1 billion in Helix Digital Infrastructure. The venture was launched by KKR in June 2026, with the goal of building data centers while securing power and networking connections. Beyond a significant financial commitment, Samsung Electronics will contribute memory technology, FläktGroup will provide cooling systems, Samsung C&T will handle construction, Samsung SDS will develop data centers, and Samsung SDI will provide batteries for uninterrupted power.

This strategic move aligns with Samsung's strategy to move from supplying hardware towards direct involvement in building AI infrastructure. Helix also plans to secure power capacity, highlighting the importance of electricity availability in its development model. While Huawei and SoftBank are notable competitors, neither can match Samsung's extensive range of infrastructure capabilities.

Huawei boasts a broader technology range, including processors, storage, networking, security, cooling equipment, and electricity infrastructure, but lacks a comparable $1 billion infrastructure commitment. SoftBank, on the other hand, has semiconductor interests through its portfolio companies, including Arm, Ampere Computing, and Graphcore, as well as plans for an AI facility in Ohio.

Despite its semiconductor prowess and AI infrastructure ambitions, SoftBank still needs to complement Samsung's extensive infrastructure capabilities across multiple businesses, similar to Samsung's approach.