en.Wedoany.com Reported - Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH) and Arsari Group have jointly launched PT Infra Fiber Teknologi (IFT), an independent digital fiber optic infrastructure platform in Indonesia adopting an open access model.

The platform was officially announced operational on July 2, 2026, in Jakarta, with its core objective being to expand digital connectivity coverage across Indonesia by managing a large-scale fiber optic network accessible to multiple telecommunications and digital service providers.

IFT is the result of a strategic partnership between Indosat and Arsari Group, aimed at strengthening Indonesia's digital infrastructure and driving the national digital transformation. As an independent platform, IFT will manage over 86,000 kilometers of fiber optic network, encompassing national backbone networks, domestic submarine cables, and access networks distributed across various regions.

This launch also marks the completion of a strategic transaction since the signing of an investment agreement in December 2025. In this transaction, Indosat and PT Aplikanusa Lintasarta transferred their shares in IFT to PT Nusantara Fiber Teknologi (NFT), an investment platform under Arsari Group. Upon completion, Indosat and PT Aplikanusa Lintasarta jointly hold a 49.9% stake in NFT, thereby retaining strategic ownership of the fiber optic infrastructure business.

IFT's business model emphasizes the open access concept, where the fiber optic network is available to multiple telecom operators, enterprises, hyperscale cloud service providers, and other digital companies without relying on a single operator. This model is expected to expand wholesale partnerships and enhance the efficiency of Indonesia's digital infrastructure development. For Indosat, this transaction also provides financial flexibility, enabling it to strengthen investments in its core business. Indosat Group received approximately IDR 11.7 trillion from the transaction, which will be used for telecom network development, accelerating 5G service deployment, and supporting the development of digital services based on artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

Aryo P.S. Djojohadikusumo, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Arsari Group, stated that digital infrastructure development is crucial for enhancing Indonesia's future competitiveness. The establishment of IFT focuses not only on network construction but also on ensuring equal access to digital services for people across all regions.

Vikram Sinha, President and Chief Executive Officer of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, noted that the establishment of IFT is part of the company's efforts to expand societal access to digital technology through more open and sustainable infrastructure, with the goal of making the benefits of AI, cloud, and next-generation digital services accessible to a broader segment of society.

The establishment of IFT aims to address the challenge of connectivity inequality in Indonesia. Despite the continued growth of the national digital economy, some regions outside growth centers still face limitations in high-speed network access. According to the company, approximately 45% of IFT's network is located on Java Island, while 55% is distributed across Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, and Eastern Indonesia outside Java, giving the company a strategic advantage in expanding service coverage to areas with insufficient digital infrastructure.

Hendry Syam, President of PT Infra Fiber Teknologi, emphasized that the company's primary priority is not only to strengthen networks in developed areas but also to provide connectivity to underserved regions. Going forward, IFT will prioritize building fiber optic infrastructure in underserved areas, expanding wholesale partnerships with telecom operators and hyperscale cloud service providers, and enhancing operational capabilities to meet the high-capacity network demands required to support AI development. The company also plans to improve network resilience, reduce operational costs, and strengthen the national digital ecosystem through collaboration with multiple industry partners.

In the transaction for the platform's establishment, Citi served as Indosat's exclusive financial advisor. Through an independently designed equity structure and governance framework, IFT is expected to attract long-term investment while accelerating the construction of fiber optic infrastructure as the foundation for Indonesia's next-generation digital services.