Bitera, an advanced data center, celebrated its grand opening in February 2024, with esteemed Indonesian government officials in attendance, including Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Investment and Head of the Investment Coordinating Board, and Erick Thohir, Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN). Their participation underscores the collaborative efforts between the government and private sector, laying a strong groundwork for advancing Indonesia's digital economy.
"The penetration of data centers in Indonesia is currently still below 1 watts per capita, far compared to neighboring countries such as Singapore at 100 watts per capita. As another comparison, the average consumption in Japan reaches 10 watts per capita, indicating that Indonesia still has a lot of room to grow in terms of data center infrastructure", said Tedy Harjanto, CEO of Bitera.
The limited presence of data centers in Indonesia aligns with statistics provided by the Association of Indonesian Internet Service Providers (APJII), revealing that Indonesia's data center penetration rate ranks among the lowest in the Asia Pacific Region, standing at approximately 0.3 watts per capita. This figure falls significantly short of the estimated ideal capacity requirement of nearly 840 megawatts (MW) based on the country's total population. In comparison to other ASEAN nations, Indonesia's data center capacity represents only about 12.7 percent.
Presently, Indonesia remains behind schedule in its data center development as compared to the 2030 target. This shortfall raises significant concerns, particularly given the pivotal role data centers serve as digital infrastructure in bolstering Indonesia's digital economy. Bahlil Lahadalia, Minister of Investment and Head of the Investment Coordinating Board underscored the critical importance of digital infrastructure in driving both Indonesian and global economic digital transformations. Hence, attaining this objective necessitates the establishment of suitable digital infrastructure.
"Bitera's presence as a local pride data center represents a significant historical milestone on our nation's digitalization journey. The presence of Bitera is expected to strengthen the national digital infrastructure in order to help prepare Indonesia to compete on the international stage, empowering MSMEs and startups through access to sophisticated technology", he added.
The inauguration of Bitera provides an excellent opportunity to demonstrate the collaboration between governmental objectives and the private sector in building a robust and enduring digital future for Indonesia. This significance is heightened by the fact that Bitera is wholly owned by Indonesian entities.
The company offers a critical IT load capacity of 20 MW with up to 4,000 racks. A Tier-III+ facility, it provides Five9s availability Service Level Agreement and stands out as the safest data center in downtown Jakarta. Power reliability is also guaranteed through 2N redundancy supplied from two diversified substations. Additionally, recognition of dedication to security standards is reflected in certifications such as ISO 27001 and Uptime Institute TCCD, and TCCF to be obtained by Bitera.
Utilizing energy-efficient and eco-friendly technologies, the company has attained carbon neutrality and vows to uphold sustainability practices in the years ahead. Positioned as a trailblazer in digital infrastructure solutions, Indonesia is poised to embrace a more advanced and competitive digital economic landscape, fostering fresh prospects for development and innovation within the nation. Aligned with the sustainable development goals of MMS Group Indonesia, the company, as an affiliate, shares a common vision for fostering sustainability in Indonesia. The noteworthy accolades earned by MMS Group Indonesia underscore their dedication to promoting sustainable energy transitions and exemplify their commitment to advancing sustainable development initiatives in the country.