Mitratel and Airbus’s AALTO Aim to Bridge Indonesia’s Digital Divide from the Stratosphere

JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — In the race to connect one of the world’s most fragmented geographies, Indonesia is looking upward. PT Dayamitra Telekomunikasi Tbk, the tower infrastructure giant known domestically as Mitratel, has deepened its alliance with AALTO HAPS Limited—a subsidiary of European aerospace titan Airbus—to beam internet from the stratosphere.

The two companies signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona on March 2, 2026. The agreement focuses on the commercial development of "Stratospace" via High Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS). These solar-powered aircraft, or "Stratocraft," operate at altitudes far above commercial flights and weather patterns, acting as "towers in the sky" to provide consistent cellular coverage.

For Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, the traditional "boots on the ground" approach to infrastructure has reached its limit. Laying subsea cables and erecting steel towers in the "3T" —frontier outermost, and least developed—regions is an expensive and often physically impossible feat. This technological leap matters because it offers a viable path to digital equity for millions of Indonesians currently sidelined from the modern economy, potentially boosting GDP through increased digital participation.

Elevating the Infrastructure Playbook

Under the agreement, AALTO will provide the Stratospace connectivity services and manage the Zephyr aircraft—the record-breaking solar-powered HAPS designed by Airbus. Mitratel, the leading tower provider and an operating arm of state-owned PT Telkom Indonesia Tbk, will manage the ground-based infrastructure and integration.

The partnership, which extends a preliminary 2023 agreement through October 2027, is not merely a pilot project. It involves a "comprehensive feasibility study" that delves into the financial, technical, and regulatory thicket of Indonesian law. The companies are currently navigating the complex permitting processes required to operate unmanned aircraft in national airspace while ensuring the business model remains "prudent" for shareholders.

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Bridging the 3T Gap

Theodorus Ardi Hartoko, CEO of Mitratel (listed as MTEL on the Indonesia Stock Exchange), noted that the synergy between fixed towers and HAPS technology would enhance the "quality, coverage, and resilience" of the nation’s digital ecosystem.

"This extension provides a stronger foundation for both parties to conduct a comprehensive study and create a measurable implementation roadmap aligned with Good Corporate Governance," Hartoko stated from Barcelona.

Seno Soemadji, Director of Strategic Business Development at parent company Telkom Indonesia, characterized the move as a strategic hedge. While terrestrial towers remain the backbone of the network, HAPS is viewed as a "strategic enabler" that provides network resilience in disaster-prone areas and fills coverage holes where fiber cannot reach.

A New Chapter for Global Connectivity

AALTO CEO Hughes Boulnois highlighted that the momentum for Stratospace is shifting from experimental to commercial. The Zephyr’s ability to provide direct-to-device connectivity—essentially allowing a standard smartphone to connect to a stratospheric station without specialized equipment—is the "holy grail" for emerging markets.

"The commitment from partners in the Asia-Pacific region positions this area as a growth hub for AALTO," Boulnois said. For Mitratel, the venture is a play for a future where the company’s "tower" portfolio isn't just made of steel and concrete, but of sunlight and silicon, hovering 65,000 feet above the earth.