Zankore has secured up to $3.1 billion for a major AI infrastructure push. The joint venture plans to build Indonesia’s first large-scale AI factory. Its partners include Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, Nvidia, and Nokia.
The funding will support an initial 100-megawatt facility and a neocloud platform. A neocloud is a modern cloud service built for AI workloads. It gives companies access to powerful computing without owning expensive hardware.
The loan came from a banking group led by Citi, ING, Natixis CIB, Qatar National Bank Group, and United Overseas Bank. The deal ranks among Asia’s largest AI infrastructure financing transactions.
Zankore will use the funds to buy and deploy advanced GPU systems. GPUs are chips designed to process many tasks at once. They power AI training and real-time AI services, also called inference.
For enterprises, this could remove a major barrier. Many firms want AI tools but lack affordable computing capacity. Local access can reduce latency and improve data control. It may also help Indonesian developers build services for regional markets.
“AI is creating a defining opportunity for Indonesia and Southeast Asia. The question is no longer simply whether the region will use AI, but whether we build the infrastructure that enables us to participate meaningfully in creating its future. With Nvidia’s support, Zankore is building the advanced AI computing foundation needed to help turn that opportunity into reality,” Vikram Sinha, director and chairman of Zankore, said in a statement.
However, the plan also carries large execution demands. AI factories need reliable power, strong cooling, and resilient networks. They also require skilled teams to operate complex systems. Indonesia must balance growth with energy planning and sustainability goals.
The telecom angle is clear. Operators increasingly see AI compute as part of digital infrastructure. Networks, data centers, and cloud platforms now converge. This trend mirrors wider shifts across 5G, edge computing, and enterprise services.
The Ooredoo Group has already invested $800 million in the venture. It holds a 49% stake. Nokia will provide AI networking infrastructure. Nvidia will supply GPU hardware and software.
Zankore targets 200 megawatts of AI capacity in early 2027. Over time, it wants to scale to one gigawatt. That would place Indonesia among the region’s most ambitious AI infrastructure markets.
The company plans to serve startups, enterprises, developers, institutions, and AI-native firms. It will use revenue sharing and credit support to match capacity with demand. This structure may reduce waste and improve capital efficiency.
If demand materializes, Zankore could strengthen Southeast Asia’s AI position. If demand slows, the venture faces heavy debt and infrastructure costs. For now, it marks a bold step in regional digital transformation.
