The GSMA has called for an intensified investment effort to accelerate Indonesia's digital transformation, critical for positioning the nation among the leading digital economies in the Asia Pacific region.
At the Digital Nation Summit in Jakarta, the GSMA highlighted a practical programme aimed at unlocking private capital, essential for advancing infrastructure across 5G spectrum, fibre backhaul, and AI-ready data centres.
The initiative is timely, as Indonesian enterprises exhibit a robust appetite for digital transformation, evident in a GSMA Intelligence survey where 66% of firms ranked AI among their top three spending areas. The survey further revealed that Indonesian companies are set to allocate an average of 10% of their revenues to digital transformation between 2025 and 2030.
“Indonesia’s scale, entrepreneurial energy, and young, connected population provide a strong opportunity to lead in the digital realm,” said Julian Gorman, head of Asia Pacific at GSMA. “The priority now is investment in areas that will yield the greatest impact, such as affordable spectrum and sustainable data centres, all while ensuring consumer protections are visible.”
With mobile operators having already invested nearly US$29 billion since 2015, the GSMA projects that a further US$41 billion could be unlocked for the national economy through the next wave of 5G investment between 2024 and 2030. However, challenges remain.
The GSMA's Digital Nations report indicated Indonesia ranks in the middle among 21 nations due to delays in mid-band spectrum allocation and uneven rural coverage, potentially impeding progress.
Additionally, the GSMA's ASEAN Consumer Scam Report 2025 uncovered disturbing trends in cybersecurity. About 45% of Indonesian adults report lifetime victimisation by scams, with OTT messaging (50%) and voice calls (44%) being primary conduits.
The report highlighted a demand from 81% of Indonesians for operators to share minimal, purpose-bound network signals to combat fraud, paving the way for innovative solutions like GSMA Open Gateway anti-fraud APIs.
To accelerate growth while addressing these challenges, Indonesia faces several urgent calls to action:
- Investment in infrastructure: Measurable targets for rural 4G/5G coverage and enhanced data centre capacity are essential.
- Cross-sector collaboration: The recent alliance between Telkomsel, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, and XLSmart demonstrates a commitment to protect customers from cyber threats through shared open telco API protocols.
- Policy clarity: Clear timelines for spectrum allocation and harmonised data governance are crucial to attract investment and facilitate innovation.
The GSMA urges Indonesian stakeholders to implement these strategies, highlighting that a cohesive approach could substantially strengthen the nation’s digital landscape and economic resilience.
