- Nusantara Data Center Academy, led by Erick Hadi, plays a crucial role in addressing Indonesia’s talent gap by providing specialised education for the data centre industry.
- The academy focuses on upskilling professionals, promoting sustainability through energy-efficient practices, and integrating renewable energy into the sector.
- Looking ahead, Hadi envisions significant growth in Indonesia’s data centre industry, driven by digitalisation and the continuous development of talent to meet future demands.
As Indonesia’s data centre market continues to expand, Nusantara Data Center Academy stands at the forefront, addressing critical challenges such as talent shortages and sustainability. In an exclusive interview with BTW Media, Nusantara’s Founder Erick Hadi shares insights into the academy’s role in shaping the future of Indonesia’s digital infrastructure. From their strategic efforts to fill the talent gap to embracing emerging technologies, Hadi provides a comprehensive look at how Nusantara is driving progress in this vital sector.
Chloe (BTW Media): Nusantara has established itself as a key player in Indonesia’s data centre market. What strategies have been most effective in driving your growth in this competitive industry?
Erick Hadi: First, let me introduce myself—I’m Erick Hadi, Founder of Nusantara Data Center Academy. In the digital landscape, particularly the data centre sector, we play a crucial role in delivering education to the industry. Indonesia faces a major challenge with a significant talent gap. We lack professionals not only to operate data centres but also to design, build, maintain, and construct them. At Nusantara, we focus on addressing this by providing the digital industry with a steady stream of qualified manpower, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the data centre ecosystem.
Chloe (BTW Media): With demand for data storage and processing continuously on the rise, how is Nusantara scaling its infrastructure to meet the needs of both local and international clients?
We lack professionals not only to operate data centres but also to design, build, maintain, and construct them. At Nusantara, we focus on addressing this by providing the digital industry with a steady stream of qualified manpower, ensuring the long-term sustainability of the data centre ecosystem.
Erick Hadi, founder of Nusantara Data Center Academy
Erick Hadi: While our focus isn’t directly on infrastructure expansion, we work closely with the Data Center Association to stay ahead of industry needs. Through our educational programmes, we collaborate with technology providers and vendors to continuously upskill and reskill Indonesian talent. This is how Nusantara contributes to the growth and scaling of Indonesia’s data centre industry, by ensuring the workforce is prepared for the increasing demands.
Chloe (BTW Media): Data sovereignty has become increasingly important. How does Nusantara ensure compliance with Indonesia’s data localisation regulations while maintaining global standards?
Erick Hadi: Data sovereignty is indeed a crucial topic. Indonesia introduced Government Regulation No. 82 in 2012, later updated with Government Regulation No. 71, which governs data protection and management, especially for public data. The government has been proactive in ensuring these regulations are in place to safeguard public data, and we expect further strengthening of these frameworks to benefit the people of Indonesia. At Nusantara, we ensure our educational content aligns with these regulations, equipping our talents with the knowledge to navigate this evolving landscape.
Chloe (BTW Media): Sustainability is a growing priority in the data centre industry. What initiatives is Nusantara implementing to reduce its environmental impact?
Erick Hadi: Sustainability, especially through ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) initiatives, is a hot topic in Indonesia’s data centre sector. We focus heavily on educating key players about energy efficiency, optimal energy storage, and effective distribution to power data centres. Additionally, renewable energy is becoming a critical part of the conversation. Discussions are ongoing on how best to integrate renewable sources into the data centre ecosystem to support sustainable digital growth.
Chloe (BTW Media): Emerging technologies like AI and edge computing are transforming industries. How is Nusantara leveraging these technologies to enhance its services?
Erick Hadi: AI is a rapidly growing focus in Indonesia. At Nusantara Academy, we’re now in our second season of producing podcasts, with many episodes dedicated to AI-related topics. We’ve seen private companies making significant investments in AI technologies—both software and hardware—and it’s exciting to watch the ecosystem develop. The Indonesian government is also placing a strong emphasis on AI education, which we believe is essential for preparing the workforce of the future.
Chloe (BTW Media): Cybersecurity is a major concern for data centres. What steps is Nusantara taking to protect client data from evolving threats?
Erick Hadi: In terms of data centres, physical security is a top priority. However, logical, IT, and network security are equally critical, and we work in close collaboration with platform providers to ensure comprehensive protection. Indonesia has made significant strides in securing data both physically and digitally. Stringent access control measures are already in place to ensure that only authorised personnel can access sensitive data.
Chloe (BTW Media): As Indonesia’s market continues to develop, how does Nusantara plan to expand its footprint? What regions or sectors are you targeting for future growth?
Erick Hadi: The biggest challenge we face is talent. There’s a clear shortage of professionals, and no dedicated educational programmes exist to develop the necessary skills for the data centre industry. At Nusantara, we are leading the way in addressing this gap by creating tailored programmes. Beyond this, raising awareness about how data centres operate and what’s needed to support them is equally critical. Our goal is not just to educate but to build a stronger foundation for the entire industry.
There’s a clear shortage of professionals, and no dedicated educational programmes exist to develop the necessary skills for the data centre industry. At Nusantara, we are leading the way in addressing this gap by creating tailored programmes. Beyond this, raising awareness about how data centres operate and what’s needed to support them is equally critical. Our goal is not just to educate but to build a stronger foundation for the entire industry.
Erick Hadi, founder of Nusantara Data Center Academy
Chloe (BTW Media): How does Nusantara ensure the reliability and uptime of its data centres, especially in the face of natural disasters and other disruptions?
Erick Hadi: Data centre operations are governed by strict global standards, especially regarding site selection. In Indonesia, these guidelines are implemented to mitigate risks from natural disasters. For instance, disaster recovery centres must be located at least 10 to 30 kilometres from the main data centre. The challenge lies in selecting the right locations, given Indonesia’s archipelagic nature, and ensuring stable power supply and connectivity. We continue to focus on these aspects to maintain reliability across our facilities.
Chloe (BTW Media): Looking ahead, what are Nusantara’s long-term goals, and how do you see the data centre landscape evolving in Indonesia over the next decade?
Erick Hadi: Our long-term goal is to be a trusted partner to Indonesia’s digital industry. We collaborate with private sector players and the government to deliver a range of educational programmes. At Nusantara, we focus on five core components: academics, business, community, government, and media. We believe these elements are crucial to achieving our long-term vision. Over the next five to ten years, we expect the data centre industry to grow significantly as digitalisation expands across the region. The main challenge will be addressing the talent shortage, which is why our role in upskilling and reskilling professionals will remain central to our mission.
Chloe (BTW Media): Thank you for sharing your insights today, Erick.
Erick Hadi: Thank you, Chloe.
This exclusive interview with Erick Hadi provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing Indonesia’s data centre industry. As Nusantara continues to lead the way in addressing the talent gap and promoting sustainability, the future of Indonesia’s digital infrastructure looks bright, with education and innovation at the forefront.
