Indosat launches Zankore with Nvidia and Nokia to deploy up to 1GW of AI data center capacity across Indonesia

Indonesian telecom operator Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison has unveiled a major push into AI infrastructure with the launch of Zankore by Indosat, a new venture aimed at deploying up to 1GW of AI-focused data center capacity. The initiative is being developed in partnership with the wider Ooredoo Group, Nvidia, and Nokia, marking one of the most significant AI infrastructure commitments in Southeast Asia to date.

The move underscores Indosat's long-stated ambition to position Indonesia as a key regional hub for AI workloads, building out the underlying compute and networking fabric required to support large-scale adoption of agentic and enterprise AI. According to the company, Zankore "lays the foundation for one of the region's largest AI infrastructure platforms, which will enable the next phase of agentic and enterprise AI adoption at scale."

As part of the project, Indosat will deploy 1GW of Nvidia DSX infrastructure capacity, with Nvidia supplying GPU hardware and AI software, while Nokia provides AI networking capabilities. The three companies previously collaborated on an AI-RAN research center in Indonesia last year, and this new venture builds directly on that relationship. Ooredoo Group, for its part, will provide long-term capital for the project, having separately announced an $800 million investment to support the development of Zankore.

Zankore is targeting approximately 200MW of AI capacity in the first half of 2027, powered by Nvidia GB300 NVL72 systems. The deployment will also incorporate Nvidia DSX MaxLPS, a technology that dynamically optimizes power across the GPU fleet to recover stranded power and increase compute capacity within existing facility power envelopes. Indosat claims MaxLPS can enable up to 40 percent more compute within the same power budget, expanding Zankore's ability to serve customers and generate revenue.

"As enterprises move from AI experimentation to mission-critical deployment, they need more than computing power; they need an integrated AI ecosystem," said Vikram Sinha, president director and chief executive officer of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison. "By bringing together the full AI stack, from models such as Sahabat-AI to intelligent network capabilities including AI Grid and AI-RAN, Zankore by Indosat provides the trusted foundation to accelerate AI adoption at scale."

"As AI expands into the physical world, countries and enterprises are increasingly focused on building sovereign AI capabilities that are secure, scalable and trusted. Achieving that requires intelligent orchestration of compute, connectivity and control across AI factories, data centers and the Edge," added Justin Hotard, president and CEO of Nokia.

A board of directors has been established to oversee Zankore's long-term strategy, comprising Ooredoo's Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo and Thomas Chevanne, Indosat's Vikram Sinha and Vishal Gupta, and independent director Arijit Ranjan Sarker. Ulf Ewaldsson, former president of technology at T-Mobile, has been appointed as CEO of the venture.

The launch comes amid a broader wave of AI data center investment in Indonesia. Earlier this week, CoreWeave announced plans to expand into the country with three data centers, targeting 360MW of capacity. Indosat's move also builds on its existing data center portfolio, which the company has previously said is well-positioned to support AI computing power through its Nvidia-equipped facilities. In 2022, Indosat partnered with BDx Data Center and Lintasarta to form a data center joint venture valued at around $300 million, marking BDx's entry into the Indonesian market.

With Zankore, Indosat is betting on a full-stack approach that combines compute, networking, and capital to capture a leading share of the region's AI infrastructure demand. The project's scale, backed by Ooredoo's long-term capital commitment, signals a shift toward more integrated, AI-specific data center platforms across Asia-Pacific, and could set a benchmark for how telecom operators in emerging markets approach AI-driven growth.