In sum – what to know:
AI Grid – Indosat says its AI Grid combines centralized AI Factories with distributed AI computing closer to users, enabling AI applications across Indonesia.
Sahabat AI – The Indonesian-language AI model is supporting education, healthcare, and business applications while broader sector deployments are planned.
5G modernization – Nationwide low-band 5G and expanded mid-band coverage will provide the foundation for future AI-RAN architecture and AI-enabled services with Nokia and Nvidia.
Indonesia’s Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison has said its nationwide 5G modernization program with Nokia is intended to do more than expand mobile coverage—it will create the foundation for an AI Grid capable of supporting AI applications across the country.
In answers provided to RCR Wireless News, Vikram Sinha, president director and chief executive officer of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, said the operator views AI-RAN as the architectural foundation for a broader distributed AI platform rather than simply a way to improve network efficiency.
“Our recently announced partnership with Nokia is about enhancing our network through the advanced 5G RAN technologies to ensure it is AI-ready. AI-RAN provides the common architecture for combining network connectivity and intelligence to create an AI Grid. This grid combines our centralized AI Factories with distributed AI computing power that is much closer to end users across Indonesia,” the executive said.
Sinha also said the approach is intended to support the deployment of Indonesian-developed AI models across the country. “Why is this important? Because it is enabling AI models like Sahabat AI and AI applications to be developed and used by Indonesians wherever they are in the country,” he added.
According to Sinha, Sahabat AI is already being adopted in several sectors. “We are already seeing adoption of Sahabat AI to practical applications across government services, healthcare, education, and agriculture. We believe the upgraded network will also enable advanced consumer and enterprise use cases across key sectors, including public services, industry, and digital services.”
The carrier is also supporting AI adoption through AI experience centers in Solo and Jayapura, Papua, as well as through its AI-RAN innovation center in Surabaya and the Nvidia AI technology center.
Asked which AI applications are likely to gain traction first, Sinha pointed to education, healthcare, and enterprise functions. “Right now, we are seeing Sahabat AI being used in education to support teachers and students, in healthcare where it can act as a digital co-pilot to assist medical professionals, and in business to support functions like HR, finance, and operations. These areas are just the start, and we see applications across a wider variety of sectors in Indonesia.”
Looking ahead, he said the AI Grid could support more advanced edge AI workloads. “In the future the AI Grid could also power Vision AI capabilities such as real-time analytics for cameras, sensors, and drones, enabling smarter agriculture, improved public safety, better disaster response, and more efficient city management. In the long term, the AI Grid paves the way for Physical AI, integrating robotics, automation, and edge AI to accelerate Indonesia’s industrial transformation in manufacturing, logistics, mining, and beyond,” the executive added.
The interview follows Nokia’s announcement that it will modernize Indosat’s nationwide mobile network using advanced 5G RAN technologies. Under the agreement, Nokia will deploy its Habrok and Pandion radio families, Levante basebands, Centralized RAN, and network automation platforms. The rollout includes low-band 5G across Indosat’s nationwide footprint and mid-band 5G coverage reaching approximately 80% of the network over the next three and a half years.
Nokia, Indosat and Nvidia are also collaborating on AI-RAN development, with field trials in Indonesia planned by the end of 2026 following the companies’ first AI-RAN call demonstrated at Mobile World Congress 2026.
Sinha said the modernization program is designed to support that roadmap. “The partnership supports the modernization of Indosat’s nationwide mobile network through the deployment of advanced 5G RAN technologies. While we are not disclosing the specific number of sites involved, the deployment will introduce low-band 5G across Indosat’s full network footprint, with mid-band 5G expected to cover approximately 80% of the network over the next three and a half years,” he said.
Beyond expanding coverage and capacity, the modernization program is designed to create an AI-ready network foundation that supports future AI-RAN architecture and AI-enabled services in collaboration with Nokia and Nvidia.”
