Rosan Roeslani Backs India-Style Open Network to Disrupt Big Tech and Reshape Indonesia's Digital Economy

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Indonesia is preparing to shake up its digital landscape by launching a massive, state-backed digital public infrastructure designed to break the monopoly of tech giants and democratize online commerce. Dubbed the Indonesia Open Network (ION), this next-generation ecosystem will fundamentally alter how small businesses and global investors interact with Southeast Asia’s largest digital marketplace.

For global investors and regional tech heavyweights like Gojek Tokopedia (GoTo) and Sea Group’s Shopee, ION represents a massive structural shift. By creating an open, interoperable network, the Indonesian government is actively lowering the barrier to entry for millions of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This move threatens the high commission fees and closed-loop ecosystems that have long protected dominant e-commerce and ride-hailing platforms in the region.

Dismantling Big Tech Monopolies

The strategic blueprint relies heavily on international cooperation, drawing directly from India's pioneering success with its own Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), such as the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Rosan Perkasa Roeslani, Indonesia’s Minister of Investment and Downstream Industry—who also serves as the CEO of the newly formed powerful sovereign fund, Badan Pengelola Investasi (BPI) Danantara—spearheads the initiative.

Minister Rosan finalized the cross-border framework during a high-level diplomatic meeting in Jakarta on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, alongside Indian Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty and Sachin V. Gopalan, an ION steering committee member and CEO of the Indonesia Economic Forum.

"Indonesia is currently building the foundation for a next-generation digital economy—one that is more efficient, open, and capable of reaching a wider range of business stakeholders," Minister Rosan stated in an official release following the meeting. He emphasized that the overarching mission transcends mere transactional numbers, focusing instead on structural equity. "Beyond simply driving technology adoption, this endeavor aims to ensure that our digital economy works for everyone."

An AI-Powered Upgrade to India's ONDC

By deploying ION, Indonesia becomes the second country in the world to officially adopt this open-network architecture. The system mimics India’s Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), which unbundles the digital trade pipeline into independent, modular services like logistics, payment gateways, and seller platforms.

However, Jakarta is aiming for an even more advanced technological iteration. Speaking at a developer and strategic partner workshop at the Smesco Building in Jakarta on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, ONDC India CEO T. Koshy pointed out that Indonesia is uniquely positioned to leapfrog existing infrastructure.

"Indonesia is the leader in ASEAN for this initiative," Koshy stated on the sidelines of the workshop. "What we are building here is a more advanced system, powered by AI, and tailored specifically to meet Indonesia's distinct local market demands."

Geopolitical Alignment and July Launch

The rollout of ION is perfectly timed with Indonesia's broader macroeconomic and geopolitical calendar. The government plans to officially launch the network in July 2026, synchronizing the debut with a high-profile state visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.

This bilateral showcase underscores Indonesia's aggressive pivot toward sovereign digital infrastructure. By eliminating bureaucratic friction and systemic gatekeepers, the Prabowo administration expects ION to not only catalyze domestic grassroots commerce but also present a highly structured, transparent ecosystem for foreign tech investors looking for scalable opportunities outside of traditional closed platforms.

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