Jakarta, INTI - PT Indosat Tbk (Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison/IOH; IDX: ISAT) reported another strong financial and operational performance for the first half of 2026, underscoring the company's successful transformation into an AI-driven technology business.
For the six months ending June 30, 2026, Indosat generated revenue of Rp30.7 trillion, up 13.1% year-on-year (YoY), while EBITDA increased 14% YoY to Rp14.6 trillion, outpacing revenue growth and resulting in a healthy EBITDA margin of 47.6%.
Normalized net profit attributable to shareholders surged 49.2% YoY to Rp3.2 trillion, supported by sustained business expansion, disciplined cost management, and greater operational efficiency.
The company attributed much of its momentum to the growing integration of artificial intelligence across its digital ecosystem, reinforcing its strategy to evolve beyond a traditional telecommunications operator.
AI Becomes a Core Driver of Growth
Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly central role in Indosat's customer experience through services such as Anti-Spam and Anti-Scam protection, Sahabat-AI, Gemini AI, and Adobe Express. These AI-powered offerings have helped deliver more secure, productive, and personalized digital services.
The stronger digital experience translated into a 19.9% YoY increase in data traffic, while Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) climbed 17.3% YoY to Rp46,000. Indosat also maintained a solid mobile subscriber base of 93.4 million customers.
"Our AI North Star strategy is transforming Indosat from a connectivity provider into an AI-powered technology company capable of creating long-term value," said Vikram Sinha, President Director and Chief Executive Officer of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison.
"The double-digit growth we've achieved demonstrates that our strategy is delivering tangible results and reflects the positive momentum of our transformation journey. It also strengthens our confidence to accelerate the next phase by investing in future growth capabilities while contributing to Indonesia's AI ecosystem," he added.
Investing Today to Power Future AI Growth
Strong operational performance has enabled Indosat to accelerate strategic investments that will support its next stage of expansion.
One of the company's major milestones during the first half of 2026 was the establishment of PT Infra Fiber Teknologi (IFT) in partnership with Arsari Group. Through the transfer of management of more than 86,000 kilometers of national fiber-optic infrastructure, Indosat secured approximately Rp11.7 trillion while adopting an asset-light business model, providing greater financial flexibility for future investments.
The company also continued expanding its AI Cloud business as enterprise demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure accelerated. During the first half of 2026, AI Cloud generated US$33 million in revenue, surpassing the US$28 million recorded throughout the entire 2025 fiscal year.
The performance reflects growing demand for sovereign AI infrastructure and reinforces AI Cloud as one of Indosat's emerging growth engines.
To strengthen its digital ecosystem, Indosat recently secured an additional 80 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz and 2.6 GHz frequency bands, enhancing network capacity and service quality to support AI-powered digital experiences.
Combined with its continued focus on Customer Love, the investment is expected to deliver more intelligent, reliable, and personalized connectivity while creating new monetization opportunities through Indosat 5G services, including Fixed Wireless Access (FWA).
Beyond technology investments, Indosat continues to prioritize sustainable business practices. AI-powered network optimization and intelligent energy management reduced the company's carbon emissions intensity by 50.89%.
Its sustainability efforts were recognized through inclusion in all three ESG KEHATI indices, SRI-KEHATI, ESG Sector Leaders, and ESG Quality 45, for the June–November 2026 period.
Indosat is also investing in Indonesia's AI talent ecosystem through partnerships with the Ministry of Manpower and the Wadhwani Foundation. The collaboration aims to develop one million digital talents and 100,000 AI-based entrepreneurs by 2029.
Regional Expansion Accelerates AI Adoption
Across Indonesia, Indosat continued strengthening network infrastructure while expanding AI adoption.
In the Kalimantan region, data traffic increased 27.6% YoY, supported by more than 19,500 4G base stations and the expansion of over 340 5G sites. The company also introduced 5G services in Pontianak while bringing AI education to women-led MSMEs through the SheHacks 2026 program in Singkawang.
Sulawesi recorded a 29.5% YoY increase in data traffic, backed by more than 15,500 4G sites and over 120 5G base stations. The expanded infrastructure is helping businesses and communities access AI-enabled digital services across the region.
Meanwhile, Maluku and Papua delivered the strongest regional performance, with data traffic surging 47.9% YoY and subscriber growth reaching 16%. Supported by more than 4,300 4G sites, Indosat also expanded its SheHacks 2026 initiative in Ternate, equipping women entrepreneurs with AI skills to enhance digital marketing, content creation, and business competitiveness.
Conclusion
Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison's first-half 2026 performance demonstrates how AI has become a key driver of business growth and long-term transformation. By combining strong financial performance with continued investments in AI infrastructure, cloud services, 5G connectivity, sustainability, and digital talent development, the company is positioning itself to accelerate Indonesia's digital economy while strengthening the country's AI ecosystem.
Read more: Badung Regency Commends Indosat Ooredoo's SheHacks 2026 Workshop for Empowering Women Entrepreneurs with AI