Telco Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH) has signed a 4G and 5G deal with network vendor Nokia.
The two-year deal, which will run from next year until 2027, will see the carrier expand its mobile coverage across Indonesia.
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Nokia will provide its AirScale equipment portfolio including multiband radio technology and high-capacity baseband solutions, plus its FastMile Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) solutions in strategic regions.
The vendor notes that its FWA products will enable Indonesia to ensure wider broadband access for homes and offices, while supported underserved areas.
Indosat chief executive officer Vikram Sinha told DCD earlier this year that one of the company's main goals was to improve coverage in the country's remote areas.
Last year, Indosat invested around $800 million (IDR 13bn) in capital expenditure. Of that amount, Sinha told DCD that around 60 percent of the funding was being spent to strengthen Indosat's network in rural Indonesia.
“At Indosat, our purpose is to empower Indonesia, and this collaboration reinforces our commitment to connect more people and make digitalization accessible to everyone," said Sinha this week.
"By harnessing cutting-edge technology, we aim to provide reliable connectivity. Moreover, this partnership is a pivotal step toward integrating AI into our ecosystem, paving the way for smarter, more efficient networks that will shape Indonesia’s digital future and elevate the quality of life for every Indonesian.”
Tommi Uitto, president of mobile networks at Nokia, added: "By leveraging our state-of-the-art AirScale portfolio solutions and AI-driven capabilities, we are empowering IOH to build a robust, future-ready network. This deal not only reinforces our leadership in advanced mobile networks space but also deepens our commitment to supporting Indonesia’s digital transformation and growing mobile ecosystem.”
In 2022, two Indonesian telcos, Ooredoo Indosat and Hutchison Asia Telecom Group merged to create Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH), a combined company worth $6 billion (IDR 97.7tn).
Indosat serves more than 100 million mobile subscribers across the country. By 2027, Indosat plans to connect 21 million rural residents to Internet and mobile services, as part of this investment.
