Design-Build-Operate (DBO)

Design-build-operate (DBO) is a delivery model in which one partner designs, constructs and then runs a data center for the asset owner. As a result, accountability for performance does not change hands at handover. The owner, often a developer or investor, retains ownership while the DBO partner commits to design quality, schedule and operating results such as uptime and efficiency. It differs from classic design-build, which ends at commissioning. In 2026 KT Cloud took this role on a 50 MW AI data center in Incheon, South Korea, with construction planned from Q4 2026 to Q1 2030. DBO suits complex liquid-cooled AI facilities, where design choices strongly affect later operating cost.