Surge, Nokia, and OREX SAI Join Forces to Deliver Affordable Broadband Connectivity to Millions of Indonesian Households

Jakarta, Indonesia/ Kawasaki, Japan –March 05, 2025– PT Solusi Sinergi Digital Tbk (Surge), Nokia and OREX SAI, INC. (OREX SAI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on expanding high-speed internet access to underserved communities in Indonesia. The partnership aims to provide affordable broadband through 5G Fixed Wireless Access (5G FWA) technology to up to 40 million households, addressing one of the lowest fixed broadband penetration rates in the ASEAN region, with only 15% of households currently having access to high-speed broadband, according to [Source: tradingeconomics.com and World Bank reports].

Indonesia, home to 93 million households, faces significant challenges in broadband accessibility, limiting digital inclusion and economic opportunities. This joint initiative leverages the expertise and infrastructure of all three parties to deploy innovative 5G FWA solutions, enabling more Indonesians to access fast, reliable, and cost-effective internet services.

A Strategic Collaboration for Digital Inclusion

The partnership brings together the complementary strengths of each organization:

• Surge, a licensed network facilities and service provider, will contribute its extensive fiber-optic infrastructure and local market expertise to facilitate deployment and operations.
• Nokia, a global leader in telecommunications technology, will provide 5G FWA customer-premises equipment (CPE) and advanced fixed networking solutions to ensure efficient, high-quality broadband delivery.
• OREX SAI, a joint venture of NTT DOCOMO, Inc. and NEC Corporation, will support the initiative with its Open RAN-based 5G FWA system, including 5G Standalone (5GSA) RAN, Service Management & Orchestration (SMO), and Core Network solutions.

The collaboration will focus on conducting trials and deployments using 5G NR band n50 Air Interface technology, integrating Fiber-To-The-x (FTTx) networks, IP, and optical solutions to establish a robust 5G and FWA transport architecture. The partners will work closely with regulatory bodies and industry stakeholders to ensure a smooth rollout and compliance with national telecommunications policies.

Enabling a Digital Future for Indonesia

“With Indonesia’s vast archipelago and challenging geography, traditional fixed broadband solutions have struggled to scale effectively. This partnership marks a major step forward in bringing affordable, high-speed internet at IDR100,000 and up to 100Mbps speed to millions of people,” said Shannedy Ong, Director, Surge.

Sang Xulei, Senior Vice President and Head of Network Infrastructure for Nokia Asia Pacific, added, “By leveraging Nokia’s leading network solutions including 5G FWA CPE technology, we are committed to supporting Indonesia’s digital transformation journey and enabling a more connected future.”

“At OREX SAI, we are thrilled to be part of this transformative initiative that leverages our Open RAN-based 5G FWA system in revolutionizing Indonesia’s connectivity landscape. This collaboration will not only enhance connectivity and bridge the digital divide in Indonesia but also foster societal advancement and set the stage for future innovations in 5G connectivity,” said Hiroshi Kobayashi, President and CEO, OREX SAI.

Next Steps

The parties will immediately begin technical validation and integration to optimize 5G FWA performance and assess the scalability of the solution across different regions in Indonesia. Based on the results of this work, future deployment plans will be developed, with an initial deployment starting in 2nd half of 2025, prioritizing the most underserved regions.

This partnership underscores the commitment of Surge, Nokia, and OREX SAI to bridging the digital divide and fostering inclusive economic growth through connectivity.