Jakarta, INTI - The experience of attending a concert or sporting event at a stadium goes beyond the performances on the field. Reliable internet connectivity has also become an essential requirement for visitors, particularly when thousands of people use their mobile devices simultaneously. To address this demand, the Gelora Bung Karno Complex Management Center (PPKGBK), in collaboration with Cisco, is modernizing Indonesia Arena and the Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (GBK) with WiFi 7 technology.
The development of Indonesia Arena into a smart venue was announced in December 2025. Meanwhile, the project at the GBK Main Stadium has now entered its first phase. This was confirmed by Cisco Executive Vice President of Global Sales and Chief Sales Officer Oliver Tuszik, alongside Cisco Indonesia Country Managing Director Cin Cin Go, during an exclusive interview with KOMPAS.com journalist Galuh Putri Riyanto in South Jakarta on Friday, November 6, 2026.
"In December last year, we worked on implementing a smart arena with WiFi 7 at Indonesia Arena. Today, we are launching it at GBK, specifically at the main stadium," Cin Cin said.
Oliver added that the announcement marked the beginning of the first major phase of the smart stadium project at the GBK Main Stadium. "Today, we are announcing the start of the first phase of this large-scale project. You will be able to see the results when you visit again," Oliver said.
Further details about the smart stadium project at the GBK Main Stadium are expected to be announced in the coming months.
According to Oliver, stadiums are among the most challenging environments for providing WiFi connectivity due to the large number of visitors and devices connecting simultaneously. So, what technologies is Cisco bringing to transform Indonesia Arena and the GBK Main Stadium into smart stadiums?
WiFi 7 Enables Connectivity for Thousands of Visitors
One of the key technologies in this project is WiFi 7, the latest generation of wireless networking standard, also known as IEEE 802.11be.
WiFi 7 is designed to deliver greater network capacity and faster data transfer speeds while improving connection efficiency and reliability.
This technology is particularly relevant for public venues such as sports arenas and concert halls. Thousands of visitors may connect to the network simultaneously to access social media, send messages, make digital transactions, and upload photos and videos.
Oliver explained that large stadiums face unique challenges in maintaining stable internet connectivity.
"Large stadiums are among the most difficult places to provide WiFi connectivity. Imagine tens of thousands of people using their phones and wanting to download videos at the same time," said the executive who leads Cisco's global sales division.
According to Oliver, Cisco's WiFi 7 system is designed to improve network utilization, bandwidth capacity, and connection reliability. With greater network capacity, visitors are expected to enjoy more dependable internet access throughout the venue.
The technology can also support activities such as live streaming, real-time digital interactions, and online transactions.
For the Indonesia Arena project, the announcement of Cisco's collaboration with PPKGBK stated that the deployment includes 320 Cisco Wireless access points, including enterprise-grade WiFi 7 access points designed for high-density environments.
Cisco Spaces Provides Insights into Visitor Activity
Beyond connectivity, Cisco is also introducing its data analytics platform, Cisco Spaces.
Cisco Spaces uses data from network infrastructure to provide venue operators with insights into activities within buildings and public spaces.
At Indonesia Arena, the platform is intended to help PPKGBK gain insights into visitor movement, space utilization, and venue operations. This information can help management understand how specific areas are being used and how visitors move throughout the venue during events.
These insights can support operational decision-making, such as identifying crowded areas and evaluating how facilities are being utilized.
This data-driven approach can also contribute to more efficient venue management, including improvements in safety and visitor experience.
As a result, Cisco Spaces goes beyond simply providing internet connectivity. It enables venue operators to leverage network data as a valuable source of information for managing their facilities.
Cisco ISE Strengthens Network Security
Another technology included in the project is Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE), a platform for identity management and network access control.
In environments where large numbers of visitors, devices, and interconnected systems operate simultaneously, venue operators need to ensure that each user or device receives access only to the resources they are authorized to use.
Cisco ISE helps operators identify users and devices connected to the network and enforce access policies based on their identities and context. This approach allows different access permissions to be assigned to specific users and devices.
The system also supports the implementation of Zero Trust principles, under which access is never automatically granted simply because a user or device has successfully connected to the network.
Conclusion
The integration of WiFi 7, Cisco Spaces, and Cisco ISE demonstrates how stadium infrastructure is evolving beyond conventional internet connectivity. By combining high-capacity wireless networks, data-driven venue management, and identity-based security, Cisco and PPKGBK aim to create smarter and more connected environments at Indonesia Arena and the GBK Main Stadium. These technologies are expected to improve operational efficiency while delivering a more reliable and seamless experience for visitors.
Read more: Connectivity Coverage Exceeds 90% as Government Pushes to Improve 5G Network Quality