Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH) is collaborating with Nokia and NVIDIA to deploy Indonesia’s first artificial intelligence radio access network (AI-RAN), which is expected to significantly improve the 5G experience for millions of Indonesians.
The first of its kind AI-RAN deployment in Southeast Asia (SEA), which leverages Nokia’s anyRAN software and NVIDIA’s GPUs, aims to enhance network performance, reduce energy consumption, and optimise the overall user experience across IOH’s extensive network.
By harnessing the power of AI, IOH is addressing the growing demand for high-speed, reliable connectivity in Indonesia, one of the region’s largest and fastest-growing digital economies. This is a boon to Indonesian consumers and businesses looking for faster data speeds, lower latency and improved network reliability.
The AI-driven network optimisation is expected to particularly benefit densely populated urban areas, where network congestion has been a persistent challenge. Rural communities may also see improvements in connectivity, as the AI system can potentially help extend network coverage more efficiently.
“By embedding AI into our radio access network, we’re not just enhancing connectivity — we’re building a nationwide AI-powered ecosystem that will fuel innovation across industries. This aligns seamlessly with our mission to connect and empower every Indonesian,” said Vikram Sinha, President Director and CEO of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison.
“The combination of Indosat’s vision for a nationwide AI grid and NVIDIA AI expertise and full-stack software and hardware platform will catalyse AI adoption and innovation across Indonesia, creating a new playbook for telecom operators worldwide,” said Ronnie Vasishta, SVP of Telecoms at NVIDIA.
The move aligns with Indonesia’s broader digital transformation goals, potentially accelerating the country’s progress in areas such as smart cities, Industry 4.0, and digital financial services. As 5G technology becomes more accessible and efficient through AI integration, it could open up new opportunities for innovation across various sectors of the Indonesian economy.
The project will start with the establishment of a 5G AI-RAN lab in Surabaya in early 2025, followed by a small-scale commercial pilot later in the second half of the year. Full-scale deployment is scheduled for 2026.
Entelechy Asia 