Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid met with Singtel Chairman Lee Theng Kiat at the Ministry's office in Central Jakarta on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

The meeting focused on exploring a strategic alliance to strengthen the regional digital ecosystem, particularly in data centers, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital connectivity.

Meutya Hafid stated that Indonesia is open to public-private partnerships (PPP) to expand the development of the National Data Center (PDN).

She explained that the government is moving away from an exclusive approach and adopting a more collaborative and competitive model.

“We are changing our approach. Previously, PDN was only built by the government. Now we will involve the ecosystem, opening up opportunities for public-private partnerships (PPP) to support the national digital data center ecosystem,” said Meutya.

AI Collaboration Anchored in Shared Governance Vision

The public-private cooperation also includes responsible AI development.

Meutya Hafid named Singapore as a regional reference for AI governance and welcomed Singtel’s alignment with Indonesia’s strategic outlook.

“AI is one of our concerns, how to mitigate and embrace this new technology. Singapore will be our reference point, having started earlier,” she said.

Connectivity to Eliminate Blank Spots in 3T Regions

Meutya Hafid also identified digital connectivity as a top government priority, especially for addressing blank spots in frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged (3T) regions.

She stressed the significance of contributions from Telkom, Telkomsel, and Singtel in reaching underserved areas.

“One of our quick wins is achieving zero blank spots. We believe that close collaboration with Telkomsel and Singtel will accelerate this achievement,” she stated.

Strengthening Regional Digital Ecosystems Amid Global Challenges

At the end of the meeting, Meutya Hafid emphasized the urgency of building a strong and collective regional digital ecosystem in the face of global geopolitical uncertainty.

“There is no point in being strong if our neighbors are not. We believe regional strength will make us all more prepared for global digital challenges. In this regard, Singtel is a highly valued strategic partner,” she said.

PHOTO: KEMKOMDIGI

This article was created with AI assistance.