Jakarta, INTI - PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (Telkom), through its subsidiary PT Telkom Data Ekosistem (NeutraDC), is strengthening its role in developing Indonesia’s national artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in collaboration with Danantara Indonesia. Demand for data center capacity is projected to grow rapidly, particularly across the banking, mobility, and public welfare sectors.
NeutraDC is preparing plans to develop AI-focused data centers with a combined capacity of up to 1 gigawatt (GW) across Batam, Greater Jakarta, Java, and Manado. The development will be supported by 26 edge data centers across 21 cities to help distribute computing capabilities more evenly throughout Indonesia.
The plan was presented at the National AI Data Center & Electrification Strategic Workshop organized by Danantara Indonesia at Wisma Danantara in Jakarta. Held under the theme “Building Indonesia’s Sovereign AI Infrastructure: Validating National Demand, Data Center & Power Readiness,” the workshop brought together stakeholders from state-owned enterprises, regulators, and industry.
The event was attended by Danantara Indonesia Managing Director of Strategic Technology Initiatives Ricardo Irwan Rei, Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs Director General of Digital Ecosystem Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, Telkom Director of Strategic Business Development & Portfolio Seno Soemadji, NeutraDC President Director Rakhmad Tunggal Afifuddin, and PT PLN (Persero) Director of Retail and Commerce M. Fahrur Rozy.
Telkom Director of Strategic Business Development & Portfolio Seno Soemadji said Telkom (TLKM) serves as a backbone of Indonesia’s digital infrastructure, supporting sovereign cloud, sovereign AI, and sovereign cybersecurity capabilities for the government and state-owned enterprises.
“Telkom’s data centers provide the foundation for Indonesia to build a sovereign and sustainable Sovereign AI ecosystem,” Seno said.
He said a mapping exercise involving more than 70 state-owned enterprise respondents identified significant demand for data center capacity. The largest demand came from the banking, mobility, and public welfare sectors.
Geographically, demand is concentrated primarily across Java-Madura-Bali (Jamali), followed by Batam and eastern Indonesia. This demand is expected to continue increasing through 2030 as AI adoption expands across state-owned enterprises.
The way AI is used by state-owned enterprises is also expected to evolve. During 2026–2029, AI is projected to remain primarily a supporting tool for daily activities. By 2030, however, its use is expected to shift toward agentic AI and more integrated operational applications.
This transition could result in AI-related workloads accounting for up to 70 percent of total data center capacity. The changing pattern of AI adoption highlights the importance of infrastructure readiness to accommodate the growing national demand for AI computing resources.
To address this demand, NeutraDC is preparing plans for AI data centers with a combined capacity of up to 1 GW across Batam, Greater Jakarta, Java, and Manado. The development will be complemented by 26 edge data centers across 21 cities to expand access to computing capabilities nationwide.
NeutraDC President Director Rakhmad Tunggal Afifuddin outlined the company’s AI data center infrastructure readiness and phased development strategy toward the 1 GW capacity target.
NeutraDC is also preparing a three-region strategy to support a more balanced distribution of AI computing capacity across Indonesia. The strategy is being used as one of the references for aligning infrastructure development with the projected needs of state-owned enterprises discussed during the first day of the workshop.
PLN Prepares Green Energy Supply
On the energy side, PLN expressed its readiness to serve as a strategic partner by providing reliable power and green energy. The state-owned electricity company is also preparing gigawatt-scale electricity supplies to support data center growth while contributing to Indonesia’s national decarbonization agenda.
Danantara Indonesia Managing Director of Strategic Technology Initiatives Ricardo Irwan Rei emphasized the importance of aligning national AI demand projections with the readiness of digital and energy infrastructure. Such alignment is considered necessary to ensure that investments by state-owned enterprises deliver measurable strategic value.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs Director General of Digital Ecosystem Edwin Hidayat Abdullah highlighted the importance of cross-ministry coordination and regulatory support in developing a sovereign AI ecosystem.
The discussions at the workshop underscore the need to develop AI infrastructure in parallel with reliable energy supplies, regulatory frameworks, and distributed computing capacity to support Indonesia’s long-term digital and AI ambitions.
Conclusion
Indonesia is preparing to scale its AI infrastructure as demand for computing capacity grows across state-owned enterprises and key industries. Through Telkom, NeutraDC, Danantara, and PLN, the development focuses on expanding data center capacity, distributing computing resources across regions, and securing reliable and green energy to support a sovereign and sustainable AI ecosystem.
Read more: Rising Energy Demand and Rapid Digital Growth Position Indonesia as a Potential Data Center Hub