Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and Nokia are moving Indonesia’s mobile network in a new direction, with artificial intelligence placed at the center of the upgrade. The two companies announced a strategic global collaboration on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, aimed at modernizing networks across the country with AI-integrated 5G Radio Access Network technology.
The plan is designed to do more than boost speed. It is intended to make the network smarter, more adaptive, and better able to support the digital habits of millions of users who rely on stable connectivity for work, entertainment, and communication.
AI at the core of the network buildout
Under the collaboration, Nokia and Indosat will combine low-band and mid-band 5G deployment to build a high-performance foundation for next-generation digital services. The approach is expected to strengthen the quality of streaming, gaming, and virtual activities that have become central to everyday use.
That network base is also meant to support a more flexible experience for remote work, online learning, and digital communication. Rather than treating AI as an add-on, the companies are positioning it as part of the network architecture itself.
NVIDIA’s role in the AI-RAN direction
The project also includes development of AI-RAN architecture together with NVIDIA. By combining connectivity and AI capabilities, the three companies are building a path toward future computing infrastructure in Indonesia.
They are now preparing for the next stage after the first AI-RAN call trial at Mobile World Congress 2026. A field trial in Indonesia is scheduled for the end of 2026, marking the next concrete step in the deployment roadmap.
Nokia is also preparing new AI algorithms developed by its engineers. Those algorithms will be used to improve spectrum efficiency on the NVIDIA AI-RAN platform.
Innovation hubs and practical use cases
The collaboration is supported by the AI Grid concept, which connects centralized AI factories with distributed AI-RAN infrastructure in different regions. Nokia is also using the AI-RAN Innovation Center in Surabaya and the NVIDIA AI Technology Center ecosystem to speed up development.
The technology push is not limited to telecom operations. The target areas include public services, health care, education, and agriculture, all of which are expected to benefit from more practical AI adoption.
New radio gear and energy efficiency
As part of the commercial agreement, Nokia will install Habrok and Pandion radio units, Levante baseband equipment, and a Centralized RAN system. These solutions are intended to bring smarter network automation and more efficient management.
Low-band 5G is set to be expanded across the entire Indosat network, while mid-band 5G is targeted to reach around 80% of the network area within the next 3.5 years. AI support is also expected to significantly reduce electricity consumption, making the project a foundation for the national AI Grid program.
What the company leaders said
Vikram Sinha, President Director and CEO of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, said the company continues to evolve to serve customers better through digital innovation. Justin Hotard, President and CEO of Nokia, said the future evolution of networks depends on combining connectivity with large-scale intelligence.
Ronnie Vasishta, SVP Telecoms at NVIDIA, described 5G as a platform for mass intelligence. He said the collaboration between Indosat and Nokia shows how mobile networks can grow into broader AI infrastructure.
Together, the three companies are placing Indonesia on a new path for AI-based mobile network development. The effort is expected to create new economic value while also widening digital inclusion across multiple sectors.