Indonesia, India Seal Telecom Pact to Boost Digital Future

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia and India have formalized a new partnership to strengthen cooperation in telecommunications and digital technology, laying the groundwork for innovation and future digital ecosystems.

The agreement follows discussions during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Indonesia, received by President Prabowo Subianto. It was cemented through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Indonesia’s Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid and India’s Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia.

Minister Meutya emphasized that Indonesia’s digital transformation must empower citizens to master and create future technologies. “Collaboration with India is a strategic avenue to enhance our capacity,” she said in Jakarta on Tuesday, as quoted by Antara.

The MoU commits both nations to equal and mutually beneficial cooperation in developing telecommunications services and advancing next‑generation technologies. Joint research will cover 4G, 5G, and exploratory work on 6G, as well as emerging fields such as quantum technology and advanced wireless communication.

Meutya noted that mastery of telecommunications is increasingly vital as demand grows for fast, reliable, and resilient connectivity. The partnership is expected to foster knowledge exchange, capacity building, and innovation to help both countries navigate global technological shifts.

Beyond connectivity, the cooperation also addresses disaster resilience, with plans to develop emergency communication systems and risk‑reduction solutions to ensure networks remain operational during crises.

“Connectivity is also about resilience. In times of disaster, communication networks must continue to link communities, government, and emergency services,” Minister Meutya stressed.

Implementation will include training, upskilling, and reskilling programs to strengthen human resources. Opportunities for joint research and development will involve academics, industry players, and public‑private partnerships.

Business‑to‑business collaboration will also be encouraged, enabling telecom and tech firms from both countries to pursue joint projects and complement each other’s strengths.

To ensure sustainability, Indonesia and India will establish an annual Indonesian‑Indian Telco Dialogue, alternating between the two countries. The forum will review progress, address challenges, and set future priorities. The MoU will remain valid for five years, with the option to extend by mutual agreement.

Through this partnership, Indonesia aims to accelerate its mastery of future telecommunications, reinforce infrastructure resilience, and broaden the benefits of digital transformation.

“This cooperation must deliver tangible results for society. We want more opportunities for Indonesian talent, researchers, and industry to engage in technology development so that digital transformation brings stronger benefits to our people and economy,” Mnister Meutya concluded. ***