Digital Infrastructure as the Foundation for AI Transformation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has developed very rapidly in recent years. However, no matter how sophisticated an AI model is, the technology cannot deliver maximum performance without reliable digital infrastructure. According to the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), the development of digital infrastructure is one of the main foundations of Indonesia’s digital transformation, as it enables digital services, the digital economy, and technological innovation to grow sustainably. At the global level, the World Economic Forum (WEF) also assesses that digital infrastructure is a key enabler for the development of AI, cloud computing, the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and various data-based innovations.
Digital infrastructure is a technology ecosystem consisting of communication networks, data centres, cloud services, cybersecurity systems, computing devices, and integrated data management platforms that support the operation of digital services. If physical infrastructure such as toll roads and ports enables the smooth distribution of goods, then digital infrastructure enables data to move quickly, securely, and reliably between devices and applications. According to Komdigi, the development of national digital infrastructure includes not only telecommunications networks but also national data centres, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and the strengthening of a digital ecosystem capable of supporting transformation across various sectors. The existence of this infrastructure is increasingly important because AI works by processing very large amounts of data, which requires high computing capacity, high-speed connectivity, and storage systems that can operate without interruption.
AI does not only rely on sophisticated algorithms. AI models also require a computing environment capable of processing billions of parameters, storing large amounts of data, and distributing processing results to users in real time. According to NVIDIA, a leading developer of GPUs for AI, the training process for modern AI models can utilise thousands of GPUs working in parallel, reducing computation time that previously took months to just a few days. Meanwhile, the International Data Corporation (IDC) estimates that global investment in AI infrastructure will continue to increase because organisations require far greater computing capacity than conventional digital applications. Without adequate digital infrastructure, organisations will face various obstacles, ranging from slow model training processes and high latency to limited scalability when the number of users increases.
To support digital transformation and AI implementation, digital infrastructure consists of various integrated components. Each component has a different function but complements each other to ensure data can be processed, stored, transferred, and used efficiently. These components range from data centres as information processing locations, cloud services that provide flexible computing capacity, high-speed networks that connect various systems, to cybersecurity that protects the entire digital ecosystem. The combination of all these components enables organisations to build digital services that are reliable, scalable, and ready to support evolving business needs.
Data centres are the heart of digital infrastructure. All servers, storage systems, databases, and various business applications run from these facilities. This is where most computing processes take place, from data storage and information processing to the provision of digital services to users. In AI development, the role of data centres is increasingly important because the training and inference processes of AI models require enormous computing capacity. To support these needs, modern data centres are equipped with high-performance servers, GPUs, advanced cooling systems, high-capacity networks, and redundancy mechanisms so that services remain available even if disruptions occur. In Indonesia, the need for data centres continues to increase along with the growth of cloud computing, AI, government digital services, fintech, e-commerce, and the overall digital economy. The government is also encouraging the strengthening of national data centre infrastructure as part of accelerating digital transformation in various sectors.
In addition to data centres, cloud computing is an important component that allows organisations to obtain computing resources as needed without having to build all the infrastructure independently. Through cloud services, companies can dynamically increase or decrease CPU, GPU, data storage, and network capacity according to the workload being run. This flexibility helps organisations optimise costs while accelerating the implementation of various digital services. According to the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN), the utilisation of cloud services accompanied by good security governance can help organisations maintain operational resilience while supporting digital innovation.