Jakarta, INTI - The government is pushing for stronger inclusivity as the foundation of Indonesia’s national digital transformation through the adoption of open-source technology and the development of a collaborative ecosystem.
With connectivity now reaching 97 percent of inhabited areas and internet penetration standing at 80.26 percent, equivalent to around 230 million users, Indonesia has established a strong foundation to advance inclusion from mere access toward active participation in innovation.
This momentum is further reinforced by projections that Indonesia’s digital economy will reach US$360 billion by 2030, accounting for nearly 40 percent of ASEAN’s total digital economy.
“The government recognizes the crucial role of communities. Open source is a major asset that can drive leaps in innovation,” said Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Nezar Patria during Red Hat Tech Day Indonesia 2026 in Central Jakarta on Thursday, April 30, 2026.
Open Source and AI Become Strategic Foundations
The rapid expansion of the digital economy and the evolving global technology landscape require Indonesia to adopt adaptive and open strategies.
Amid intensifying global competition, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) development, an open-source approach is seen as a way to accelerate innovation while broadening participation across the digital ecosystem.
The government also highlighted that the acceleration of AI development is unfolding within a global competitive landscape shaped by geopolitical factors, making technological mastery increasingly strategic for a nation’s digital sovereignty.
“The rapid growth of AI is triggering a technological race influenced by geopolitical dynamics. Mastery of AI technology is closely tied to economic and political dominance on the global stage,” Nezar emphasized.
Digital Talent Strengthens Inclusive Innovation
In this context, strengthening digital talent has become a key factor in ensuring inclusivity creates not only technology users, but also innovators capable of independently developing solutions, including overcoming infrastructure limitations.
“Digital talent is extremely important. Global experience has shown that infrastructure limitations can be addressed through stronger talent capacity, including in algorithm development and technological innovation,” he explained.
In addition, the adoption of open source is considered capable of accelerating knowledge transfer and cross-sector collaboration, enabling innovation to grow more evenly, efficiently, and with greater industry readiness.
“The main key is building a digital ecosystem. In this regard, open source becomes highly important because it enables more dynamic, open, and community-driven development while also enhancing industrial readiness,” Nezar concluded.
Conclusion
Indonesia is positioning open source and digital inclusivity as strategic pillars to accelerate national AI development and strengthen digital sovereignty. Supported by growing internet penetration, a rapidly expanding digital economy, and collaborative ecosystems, the country aims to create not only broader digital access but also a stronger generation of innovators capable of driving sustainable technological transformation.
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