Djarum Group is further expanding its foothold in the infrastructure\nand digital services business. This latest move comes from PT Varnion\nTechnology Semesta, a subsidiary of PT iForte Solusi Infotek, which is\npart of the PT Sarana Menara Nusantara Tbk (TOWR) ecosystem, through the\ndevelopment of next-generation connectivity technology heading towards\nthe Wi-Fi 8 era.<\/p>\n
Varnion signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Omada by\nTP-Link during the introduction of Wi-Fi 8 technology in Kuala Lumpur,\nMalaysia, on Monday (15\/09\/2026). This collaboration is aimed at\nstrengthening research, testing, and the development of connectivity\nsolutions for the hospitality and enterprise sectors in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
This step is significant because Varnion does not merely operate as a\nconnectivity provider but develops internet networks integrated with\napplications. This means that Djarum Group, through the TOWR ecosystem,\nhas the opportunity to expand its digital business from simple\ntelecommunications infrastructure to services with higher added value.\niForte itself is part of the TOWR business and has been part of the\nDjarum Group ecosystem since being acquired through PT Profesional\nTelekomunikasi Indonesia (Protelindo) in 2015.<\/p>\n
Recently, Djarum Group\u2019s expansion into the digital sector was also\nevident in Protelindo\u2019s move to increase its ownership in PT Remala\nAbadi Tbk (DATA) to 51% in July 2026. This transaction strengthens\nDjarum Group\u2019s portfolio in the Internet Service Provider (ISP)\nbusiness. Consequently, Varnion\u2019s development of Wi-Fi 8 can be seen as\npart of a larger trend: the strengthening of Djarum Group\u2019s connectivity\necosystem, ranging from infrastructure to internet services and digital\nsolutions.<\/p>\n
Chasing Wi-Fi 8<\/p>\n
Through the collaboration with Omada, Varnion gains access to the\nlatest devices and support from the Omada development team to conduct\nresearch, testing, and the development of products and services.<\/p>\n
Founder and President Director of Varnion, Alexander Budiman, stated\nthat support for research and development was the primary reason the\ncompany chose Omada as a strategic partner. \u201cWe built Varnion as a\ntechnology company based on research and development. Therefore, we need\na partner that supports our innovation process,\u201d Alexander said in a\nwritten statement on Tuesday (15\/09\/2026).<\/p>\n
According to him, access to the latest devices and direct support\nfrom the development team allows Varnion to test technology while\nproviding feedback based on field implementation experience. The\ncollaboration also opens opportunities for Varnion to develop solutions\ntailored to the needs of Indonesian customers and integrate them with\nthe company\u2019s application ecosystem.<\/p>\n
Wi-Fi 8 is aimed at improving connection quality in environments with\nhigh device density and signal interference. The technology includes\nfeatures such as Coordinated Spatial Reuse and Coordinated Beamforming,\nwhich allow network devices to manage spectrum and signal usage more\ncoordinately. For Varnion, these developments present an opportunity to\nprovide connectivity that is not only fast but also more stable when\nmany devices are active simultaneously.<\/p>\n
Value-Added Services<\/p>\n
A differentiator in Varnion\u2019s current strategy is the effort to\ncombine networks with applications within a single ecosystem. As an ISP\nwith Application-Based Solutions, Varnion develops connectivity services\nalongside applications through CloudOne. This ecosystem includes Megalos\nfor connectivity management, Keponet for operational work coordination,\nand Vlepo for television services and digital experiences for\nguests.<\/p>\n
This approach has the potential to transform the connectivity\nbusiness from merely selling internet access to becoming a digital\nsolution provider for corporate customers. For the hospitality sector,\nfor instance, connection quality is a key part of the guest experience.\nFor companies, consistent networks are increasingly important to support\noperations, cloud applications, video communication, IoT, and the\nutilisation of AI.<\/p>\n
Director of TP-Link Indonesia, Jimmy Gu, stated that innovation is\nnot only about introducing the latest technology but also about how that\ntechnology provides real benefits to businesses. \u201cThe collaboration with\nVarnion is an opportunity to combine Omada\u2019s technological capabilities\nwith an understanding of customer needs in the field,\u201d said Jimmy.<\/p>\n
For the Djarum Group ecosystem, these developments demonstrate how\nthe telecommunications business can be expanded further into the digital\nservices sector. TOWR has long been known as a telecommunications\ninfrastructure player through its tower and fibre optic businesses.\nHowever, expansion through iForte, the strengthening of the ISP\nbusiness, and the development of connectivity solutions show a broader\ngrowth space beyond conventional tower businesses.<\/p>\n
This move also aligns with Djarum Group\u2019s increasingly aggressive\nentry into the digital sector. In addition to TOWR, Djarum Group\nstrengthened its position in the ISP business in July 2026 by taking a\n51% controlling stake in DATA through Protelindo. Therefore, Varnion\u2019s\ndevelopment of Wi-Fi 8 is not just about new network technology. For the\nDjarum ecosystem, this technology can serve as a foundation for offering\nmore integrated connectivity services to corporate and hospitality\ncustomers.<\/p>\n
However, the commercial implementation of Wi-Fi 8 will still depend\non the development of standards, device readiness, and technical testing\nresults. Varnion stated that the implementation of this technology will\nfollow the development of standards and customer needs. With the slogan\n\u201cBeyond Speed, Toward Reliability,\u201d Varnion is now positioning\nconnection reliability as its primary selling point. If successfully\ntranslated into application-based services and digital solutions, this\nmove has the potential to increase the business value of connectivity\nwithin the Djarum Group ecosystem.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/djarum-groups-breakthrough-1789534295", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }