Indosat's AI centre brings tech equity into focus in eastern Indonesia

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Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison has taken a significant step to bridge Indonesia's digital divide by launching an AI Experience Centre in Jayapura, Papua - a region frequently overlooked in the country's technology landscape.

The inauguration was timed with the celebration of National Awakening Day, with vice minister of communication and digital affairs, Nezar Patria, praising Indosat's effort to invest in eastern Indonesia's digital infrastructure.

"Digital transformation must reach every corner of our nation. The presence of this centre is a symbol of Indonesia's digital awakening - an era where every citizen, including those in Papua, has equal access, opportunity, and competitiveness," Patria said.

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The centre, built in collaboration with global tech players such as Huawei and the Wadhwani Foundation, zeroes in on two critical sectors - education and healthcare. On one hand, it promises to make personalised, AI-assisted learning accessible for students in under-resourced areas. On the other, it aims to support frontline healthcare workers through faster, more accurate diagnostics for diseases such as tuberculosis, a major public health challenge in many remote regions.

For Vikram Sinha, president director and CEO of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, the project represents more than corporate social responsibility. "The AI Experience Centre in Jayapura is a testament to Indosat's commitment to making technology a unifying and empowering force," he said. "By bringing AI to regions that require greater attention, we aim to create more equitable access to quality education and support more responsive and accurate healthcare services. This is a tangible manifestation of our mission to empower Indonesia and drive inclusive technological advancement."

Beyond AI hardware and software, the centre is also a 5G-enabled ecosystem. It features digital learning platforms, collaborative spaces for local talent, and training facilities - forming what Indosat envisions as a launchpad for nurturing Papua's next generation of digital professionals.

While most AI stories out of Southeast Asia still revolve around high-tech business districts or Jakarta's startup enclaves, Jayapura's centre flips that narrative. It suggests a broader definition of innovation - one rooted in local relevance and long-term human capital development.

AI is increasingly central to Indosat's vision, as reflected in its recent milestone: hosting Indonesia's first-ever AI Day for the Mining Industry. Held in Jakarta on 24 April, the event gathered industry leaders, policymakers, and global tech partners to explore how AI can modernise one of the nation's most traditional sectors.

With a focus on accelerating digital adoption, improving efficiency, and driving sustainability, the forum highlighted the potential of AI to transform mining. Indonesia's minister of investment, Rosan Roeslani, praised the initiative as a tangible example of the private sector driving industrial progress through technology.

As Indonesians prepared for Eid, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison leveraged AI to manage the seasonal surge in communication demand, launching its AI-powered network initiative. The system enabled real-time traffic forecasting, faster issue resolution, and improved network stability. CEO Sinha described AI as the backbone of Indosat's transformation into an "AI Native TechCo," ensuring seamless connectivity during the Ramadan and Eid period.

Beyond telecommunications, Indosat also advanced its sovereign AI infrastructure in partnership with NVIDIA and Accenture, aiming to foster local innovation and committed to training one million Indonesians by 2027 to support the country's AI-driven digital future.

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