Indosat Launches Zankore to Build 1GW AI Infrastructure for Asia-Pacific Region

JAKARTA | INDATANEWS.COM - Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (Indosat or IOH) has introduced Zankore by Indosat, a joint initiative with Ooredoo Group, Nokia, and NVIDIA to develop next-generation AI infrastructure for the global market. The Asia-Pacific region will serve as the initial development hub for the platform.

The launch of Zankore by Indosat responds to the growing demand for secure, high-performance, and integrated AI computing capabilities across the Asia-Pacific region. The platform also strengthens Indonesia's position as a regional center for AI development, with plans to expand NVIDIA DSX AI Factory capacity to reach up to 1 gigawatt (GW).

Through this development, Zankore by Indosat is expected to become one of the largest AI infrastructure platforms in the Asia-Pacific region. The platform will support the broader adoption of agentic AI and enterprise AI while creating new opportunities for businesses, governments, cloud service providers, and AI technology developers.

Indonesia Positioned as Regional AI Infrastructure Hub

Indonesia's Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, highlighted the country's significant potential in developing an AI ecosystem to meet domestic needs while serving larger regional markets.

"Indonesia has tremendous potential to fulfill both national requirements and the needs of the wider region. By combining Indonesia's abundant resources and talent, global expertise, and strategic partnerships, we can accelerate the development of sovereign AI infrastructure that benefits businesses and society. The government fully supports initiatives that strengthen Indonesia's digital competitiveness while ensuring that the benefits of AI can be utilized fairly and comprehensively throughout the country," Meutya said.

The collaboration between Indosat, Ooredoo Group, Nokia, and NVIDIA represents a strategic move to combine global technology capabilities with Indonesia's local strengths. The infrastructure is designed to deliver secure, highly scalable AI services while supporting future digital demands.

Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, Group Chief Executive Officer of Ooredoo Group, said investment in AI infrastructure has become a crucial element in the advancement of the global digital economy.

"AI infrastructure is now a fundamental foundation of the digital economy. We believe the greatest opportunities come from making early large-scale investments together with the right partners. Through Zankore by Indosat, we are combining the strengths of Ooredoo Group, Indosat, NVIDIA, and Nokia. This step aims to create a platform that enables long-term growth while supporting AI development ambitions in Southeast Asia," Aziz said.

According to Aziz, the partnership will expand Southeast Asia's ability to build a competitive and sustainable AI ecosystem.

Building AI Factory with NVIDIA DSX Technology

Zankore by Indosat is currently developing one of the largest AI Factory platforms in Southeast Asia, using NVIDIA DSX as a reference architecture, platform, and core ecosystem for AI Factory planning and operations.

NVIDIA DSX technology integrates accelerated computing, networking, power systems, cooling infrastructure, and operational processes into a unified system. This integration is designed to improve efficiency and maximize AI computing performance from every available megawatt of power.

Zankore aims to achieve approximately 200 megawatts (MW) of AI capacity, which is planned to operate with NVIDIA GB300 NVL72 in the first half of 2027. The platform will also utilize NVIDIA DSX MaxLPS technology, which dynamically optimizes energy usage across GPU systems.

With the same level of power consumption, MaxLPS technology is expected to increase computing capacity by up to 40 percent. This capability will allow Zankore to expand its services for users while accelerating the growth of AI-driven business models.

Vikram Sinha, President Director and Chief Executive Officer of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, said AI development is moving from an experimental stage toward practical implementation across various industries.

"As AI adoption continues to grow - moving from experimentation to real-world applications across industries - the demand for computing power and an integrated AI ecosystem is also increasing. With comprehensive AI capabilities, ranging from AI models such as Sahabat-AI to intelligent network solutions through AI Grid and AI-RAN, Zankore by Indosat creates a trusted foundation to accelerate large-scale AI adoption," Vikram said.

He added that Zankore provides infrastructure that connects AI models, digital networks, and advanced computing technologies.

Global Technology Partnership Strengthens AI Ecosystem

Under the partnership, Ooredoo Group acts as the primary investor and provides long-term capital while supporting the regional expansion of the platform.

Indosat contributes its market leadership, digital infrastructure, and experience in accelerating AI adoption in Indonesia. NVIDIA strengthens the platform through accelerated computing, AI software, advanced GPU technologies, and a global AI ecosystem.

Nokia contributes AI-powered network solutions designed to enable secure and high-performance AI infrastructure. The four companies combine global technology expertise, regional scalability, and local implementation to accelerate AI innovation across the Asia-Pacific region.

Justin Hotard, President and CEO of Nokia, stated that developing AI infrastructure requires integrated capabilities in computing, connectivity, and control systems.

"As AI applications continue to expand in the real world, countries and enterprises are increasingly focused on building sovereign, secure, scalable, and trusted AI capabilities. This requires intelligent orchestration of computing power, connectivity, and control across AI Factories, data centers, and deployed devices. Nokia's AI-native network technology provides trusted connectivity as a core foundation for this new generation of AI infrastructure. Together with Indosat, Ooredoo Group, and NVIDIA, we are building one of the most advanced AI infrastructure platforms in Southeast Asia," Justin said.

Ronnie Vasishta, Senior Vice President of Telecom at NVIDIA, described AI Factories as essential infrastructure for the future development of industries and nations.

"AI Factories are critical infrastructure for every country and industry. Powered by accelerated computing and NVIDIA's open and secure AI models, Zankore by Indosat will strengthen Southeast Asia's ability to shape a sustainable AI future. This initiative will transform industries and create new opportunities, allowing communities and businesses across the region and beyond to access the benefits of AI," Ronnie said.

Zankore by Indosat has also established a leadership team responsible for overseeing the strategy, governance, and operational development of the AI platform in Southeast Asia.

Vikram Sinha has been appointed Director and Chairman of the Board. Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, Thomas Chevanne, Vishal Gupta, and Arijit Ranjan Sarker have been appointed as Directors. The position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) will be held by Ulf Ewaldsson.

The leadership team brings international experience across telecommunications, technology, digital infrastructure, and investment sectors to accelerate the development of the regional AI platform.

As AI becomes increasingly important in transforming industries and economic sectors, Zankore by Indosat positions itself as an integrated AI platform supporting Southeast Asia's transition into a new digital era.

The platform is designed for cloud providers, enterprises, governments, and AI innovators to accelerate innovation and create sustainable economic growth opportunities.

In the development transaction of Zankore by Indosat, Citi acted as exclusive financial advisor to Indosat, while FTI Capital Advisors served as financial advisor to Ooredoo Group. (IDNC)

REPORTER: Sri Endang Lasmiaty | EDITOR: Fik Sagala