The launch of a joint Innovation Center by ZTE and XLSMART in Jakarta signals a more practical phase for Indonesia’s next-generation network ambitions. Rather than serving only as a technology showcase, the facility is designed to help shape new 5G business models across different industries.
The center is positioned as a shared space where business players, academics, and ecosystem partners can work together. By bringing testing closer to the market, the initiative is expected to make it easier to assess which digital solutions fit Indonesia’s real operational needs.
A testing ground located in Jakarta
The Innovation Center is located at ZTE Indonesia’s office in The East Building, Kuningan, South Jakarta. Its proximity to the market is intended to support more direct experimentation with real-world use cases.
That approach gives the facility a broader role than a conventional lab. Industry participants can test technology solutions there, while academics and ecosystem partners can help develop usage scenarios that better reflect field requirements.
AI, 5G-Advanced, and energy efficiency
Several focus areas define the center’s agenda. One of them is AI-based network optimization, which is aimed at making telecom infrastructure smarter, more predictive, and more adaptive.
Another key priority is 5G-Advanced, or 5G-A. The technology is being explored for highly reliable connectivity with low latency, with the goal of improving user experience and industrial efficiency.
Sustainable infrastructure is also part of the plan. Energy-efficient technology matters because digital operations are increasingly expected to be both cost-efficient and environmentally responsible.
The facility also includes room for exploring future technologies. That work is meant to support Indonesia’s readiness for future connectivity through strategic research.
Why XLSMART sees strategic value
For XLSMART, the Innovation Center is not only about network development. The company views it as a way to deliver measurable added value to industry through stronger technological capabilities.
Shurish Subbramaniam, Director & Chief Technology Officer of XLSMART, said the collaboration with ZTE is intended to accelerate the adoption of 5G-Advanced and AI. That statement reflects a broader strategy in which network development is tied to new use cases rather than infrastructure alone.
The setup also gives industry players a place to test whether the solutions being developed match their operational requirements. In that sense, the center supports both technology validation and business relevance.
A partnership built to speed up adoption
ZTE also sees the center as a platform that can support technology adoption in Indonesia. Richard Liang, President Director of ZTE Indonesia, said the joint launch of the Innovation Center marks a new beginning for strengthening the strategic partnership with XLSMART.
The collaboration highlights a larger reality behind 5G-A and AI development. Infrastructure alone is not enough to move these technologies into practical use across industries.
Cooperation across multiple parties is needed so that the technologies can be tested, adapted, and applied in ways that fit Indonesia’s industrial landscape. With that structure in place, the center could become an important venue for new use cases, a stronger digital ecosystem, and technology trials that are closer to market needs.
As demand grows for networks that are more reliable and more efficient, the Jakarta facility gives both companies a starting point for linking research, implementation, and business needs in a more concrete way.