PT ION Officially Established to Serve as 'Digital Public Infrastructure'
PT Indonesia Open Network (ION) has officially been established as a company dedicated to building digital public infrastructure. This initiative aims to support the development of digital trade, expand market access, and enhance the competitiveness of Indonesian micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The establishment of PT ION was marked by the signing of the deed of incorporation by its founders, including Sachin Gopalan, Chief Executive Officer of PT Chairos International Ventures, alongside Ronald Walla and Rudolf Saut Butarbutar, the Chairman and Secretary of the ION Teknologi Indonesia Foundation, respectively, at the APINDO Office in Jakarta on Friday (04/09/2026).
Dr Bayu Prawira Hie, President Director of PT Indonesia Open Network, stated that the formation of this legal entity is a significant milestone for ION’s development in Indonesia. He noted that a formal legal entity is essential as ION’s activities will involve commercial operations, business partnerships, investments, and technological development, all of which require clear and accountable legal standing.
“Today marks the signing of the establishment of PT Indonesia Open Network. With the birth of PT ION, we now have a legal entity capable of conducting various business activities while providing accountability to the shareholders investing in building Indonesia,” said Bayu.
According to Bayu, PT ION has an authorised share capital of IDR 10 billion, with a paid-up capital of IDR 2.5 billion. The company has issued 2,500,001 shares, consisting of 2.5 million Series A shares temporarily held by PT Chairos International Ventures, and one special ‘golden share’ held by the ION Teknologi Indonesia Foundation.
Bayu clarified that the temporary status refers to the shareholding of PT Chairos rather than the legality of PT ION itself. The 2.5 million shares are intended to be transferred to new investors wishing to participate in ION’s development. The golden share held by the foundation serves to safeguard the company’s direction, vision, and mission, ensuring it remains oriented towards the public interest.
Once legal formalities are complete, PT ION will immediately establish its organisational structure, finalise agreements with partners, and continue pilot projects initiated prior to the official incorporation. The next phase involves accelerating the implementation of ION as digital infrastructure accessible to businesses and the general public.
To support its expansion, PT ION is targeting an initial investment phase of approximately US$100 million. This funding is planned to come from at least 20 companies, with each contributing around US$5 million. This scheme is designed to ensure that no single shareholder can dominate or control the company.
Bayu noted that the response from potential partners and investors to the ION concept has been very positive. ION is viewed as a transformative solution for MSMEs, particularly in overcoming barriers related to market access, technology, and marketing.
“We invite various parties to join us in building ION for the benefit of MSMEs and the Indonesian economy. This is not a startup built solely for maximum profit, but rather a digital public infrastructure developed for the common good,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sachin Gopalan, CEO of PT Chairos International Ventures, explained that PT ION was formed as an investment vehicle for both domestic and international parties. However, domestic investors will remain the primary focus, as ION is designed to be a strategic asset for Indonesia.
“ION will serve as public infrastructure that the community can use for digital trade, while also providing various tools to enable Indonesian companies to enhance their digital capabilities,” said Sachin.
Sachin continued that PT ION’s ownership structure will be built on the principle of distributed and balanced ownership. No single party should be dominant, as ION must remain an open and independent infrastructure that provides widespread benefits to society.
The shareholder composition is also expected to represent various sectors, ranging from the government or state-owned enterprises, banking, and manufacturing to technology companies. Through this cross-sector representation, ION is expected to grow as a national ecosystem that is not controlled by specific industrial interests.
According to Sachin, several technology companies have already shown interest in developing this open network. Google, for instance, has provided a grant of US$1.5 million to support ION’s development through an incubation programme. The funding model utilises a co-funding pattern, allowing global technology companies to collaborate with local partners and other stakeholders in building digital public infrastructure.
Similar open network concepts have previously been developed in India under the name Open Network Digital Commerce (ONDC). In addition to Indonesia, digital open network models are also being prepared for development in Malaysia, Thailand, and Brazil.
Sachin explained that the ION Teknologi Indonesia Foundation does not function as a vehicle for bringing in investment, but rather as a ‘mission guardian’ to protect the company’s mandate. This role is necessary to ensure that PT ION does not deviate from its original purpose as a digital public infrastructure company.
“In a company with many shareholders, every party may bring their own interests. Therefore, there must be a neutral party to ensure PT ION remains within its established mandate. That is the role of the ION Teknologi Indonesia Foundation,” he said.
In its initial phase, ION will focus on assisting MSMEs in gaining market access and improving their capabilities.