Indosat trials AI-powered 5G call linking Jakarta, Europe

Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison said it has carried out Southeast Asia's first AI-powered 5G call, working with Nokia and Nvidia on a live showcase linking a conference stage in Barcelona with a device in Jakarta.

The demonstration, held during Mobile World Congress, showed how AI functions can run alongside mobile network functions. The system carried instructions, data, and video across borders in real time and was used to control a robotic device in Jakarta.

Indosat positioned the trial as an early example of placing AI closer to end users through the mobile network, rather than relying solely on centralised computing resources. It also linked the event to Indonesia's digital development, citing the country's archipelagic geography and uneven infrastructure.

Vikram Sinha, President Director and CEO of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, linked the technology to broader inclusion goals.

"This is not just about proving that the technology works. It is about ensuring that every Indonesian, wherever they are, can benefit from the digital and AI era. Our commitment is simple: no one should be left behind."

Network AI

The companies used the term AI RAN, short for artificial intelligence in the radio access network. Indosat described it as integrating AI computing into the network, placing more processing closer to where data is generated and consumed.

The approach could reduce communication delays, improve energy efficiency, and make better use of radio spectrum. Indosat said these network-level improvements could change how digital services perform in areas far from large data centres.

The showcase also highlighted each partner's role. Nokia provided mobile network technology, Nvidia contributed AI computing expertise, and Indosat pointed to its position as both a network and data centre operator.

Indosat also said it offers GPU-as-a-Service, providing access to graphics processing units for AI workloads. It said this combination of assets enables it to bring network, cloud, and AI functions together on a single platform.

Use cases

Indosat outlined potential applications for AI in the network, citing examples in agriculture, healthcare, and education. It said AI tools could support farmers in real time, help healthcare workers with diagnostics, and enable teachers to tailor learning materials for students.

No commercial timelines were provided. Indosat presented the examples as indicative of applications that could benefit when compute resources sit nearer to users and devices.

Ronnie Vasishta, Senior Vice President at Nvidia, linked the project to ambitions around domestic skills and local development of AI systems.

"AI-RAN is ultimately about people. By bringing intelligence closer to communities and investing in local talent, Indonesia is positioning itself not just as an AI user, but as an AI creator."

Next deployments

Indosat said it plans to move from demonstration to field operation, with four live AI RAN clusters planned across Indonesia. The deployments are intended to strengthen network intelligence and improve service quality, alongside a broader push for AI-based applications.

It gave limited detail on where the clusters would be located, how they would be sized, or which enterprise or public sector workloads they might run, describing the plan as a step towards operationalising AI RAN techniques.

Indosat also pointed to research and engineering programmes, including an AI-RAN Research Centre in Surabaya developed with Nokia and Nvidia, and immersive learning programmes at global innovation labs for Indonesian engineers.

Pallavi Mahajan, Chief Technology and AI Officer at Nokia, described the demonstration as evidence of what can be achieved when AI and mobile networks converge.

"This first AI-powered 5G call in Southeast Asia shows what becomes possible when leading innovators focus on connecting intelligence. IOH, NVIDIA, and Nokia are reshaping how networks operate and accelerating Indonesia's digital ambitions. We're proud to bring our technology and expertise to a collaboration that empowers local talent and sets a new global benchmark for AI-driven mobile networks."

Indosat said the next phase will focus on running live AI RAN clusters in Indonesia and expanding skills development linked to the Surabaya research centre and partner labs.