Indonesia’s digital economy is increasingly being shaped by two technologies that now move in lockstep: AI and 5G. At Selular Award 2026, that message was made explicit as industry leaders framed both technologies as essential to future growth, not optional upgrades.
The event, held at Hotel Peninsula Jakarta on Monday, June 8, 2026, went beyond an awards ceremony. It served as a meeting point for regulators, industry players, and technology providers to discuss the direction of Indonesia’s digital ecosystem.
Why 5G now matters to AI adoption
In a panel session, stakeholders stressed that wider implementation of AI depends heavily on strong digital infrastructure. Denny Setiawan, Director of Digital Infrastructure Strategy and Policy at Kemkomdigi, said the government wants Indonesia to become one of the largest digital economy hubs in the Asia Pacific.
He argued that AI development cannot advance on its own without reliable infrastructure. For that reason, broader 5G coverage is seen as a key requirement for making AI useful across society and industry.
Adrian Lesmono, Consumer Business Lead at NVIDIA Indonesia, made a similar point. He said AI needs fast and stable networks to reach its full potential.
“5G is the vehicle for AI to move smoothly,” Adrian said.
Ronni Nurmal, Head of Government and Industry Relations at Ericsson Indonesia, also said AI and 5G are no longer just technology choices. In his view, they are now necessary to raise national productivity and strengthen Indonesia’s digital sovereignty.
Awards that reflect the state of the market
Selular Media Network CEO Uday Rayana said the awards recognize companies and figures that have made major contributions to Indonesia’s digital transformation. He described the event as both an appreciation platform and a strategic discussion space for the industry.
This year’s top individual honor went to Budiarto Halim, President Director of PT Erajaya Swasembada Tbk, who received CEO of The Year 2026. The award recognized Erajaya’s performance, including revenue of Rp76 trillion in 2025.
Uday said the achievement reflects Erajaya’s journey from a small phone retail business into one of Indonesia’s major players in technology distribution and retail. Budiarto said the recognition also belonged to the Erajaya Group team that helped drive the company’s growth.
“This award is not only for me, but also for the Erajaya Group team that turned a small phone store into thousands of retail stores across many regions,” Budiarto Halim said.
Telecom, devices, and digital services all represented
Selular Award 2026 handed out a total of 40 awards across sectors that now define everyday digital life. The winners ranged from telecommunications operators and smartphone makers to laptop brands, wearable devices, digital banking, and smart home products.
In the telecom category, Telkomsel received Best Digital Telco Operator, while Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison won Best 5G Infrastructure. XLSMART took home Best 5G Speed Networks, and Telkom was named Telecom Company of The Year.
On the device side, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra won two titles at once: Best Flagship Smartphone and Best Camera Smartphone. Sharp AQUOS sense10 also stood out after being named Smartphone of the Year 2025 in the midrange category.
Digital services were not left behind. ShopeePay won Best Digital Wallet Application, highlighting how competition in Indonesia’s digital ecosystem now extends far beyond network infrastructure.
| Category | Winner | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Telecom | Telkomsel | Best Digital Telco Operator |
| Telecom | Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison | Best 5G Infrastructure |
| Telecom | XLSMART | Best 5G Speed Networks |
| Telecom | Telkom | Telecom Company of The Year |
| Devices | Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra | Best Flagship Smartphone, Best Camera Smartphone |
| Devices | Sharp AQUOS sense10 | Smartphone of the Year 2025, Midrange |
| Digital Services | ShopeePay | Best Digital Wallet Application |
A broader signal for Indonesia’s digital future
The combination of policy discussions and awards underlined a single direction: progress in AI and 5G will depend on collaboration between government, operators, technology providers, and industry players. Without that cooperation, adoption is likely to move more slowly and its economic impact may be harder to spread evenly.
With its digital ecosystem continuing to deepen, Indonesia is seen as having a strong opportunity to become one of Southeast Asia’s leading digital economies. In that context, Selular Award 2026 stood as a reminder that the technology race is accelerating, and AI alongside 5G is now at its center.
