Indonesia digital platform regulation debate

Discussions regarding the regulation and economic responsibility of global digital platforms, or Over-the-Top (OTT) services, have intensified in Indonesia.

The Indonesian Telematics Society (Mastel) has called for these global platforms to contribute to the development of national digital infrastructure. Mastel Chairman Sarwoto Atmosutarno argued that the burden of infrastructure investment currently falls too heavily on the telecommunications industry, despite global platforms relying on these networks to drive economic growth.

Following these calls, the Indonesian Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU) identified challenges regarding the dominance of these platforms. KPPU Chairman Gopprera Panggabean noted a lack of comprehensive regulation, warning of risks such as platforms acting as gatekeepers and market asymmetries. The Indonesian Telecommunications Providers Association (ATSI) has expressed support for government efforts to regulate these entities to ensure a balanced digital ecosystem, provided consumer interests are protected.