TBIG’s two PR Popular Awards in 2026 highlight the growing importance of corporate reputation, digital transformation, governance and innovation in telecommunications infrastructure.
JAKARTA — PT Tower Bersama Infrastructure Tbk (TBIG) has received two recognitions at the 7th PR Popular Awards 2026, underscoring the growing importance of corporate reputation and professional communication in the telecommunications infrastructure industry.
TBIG received the PR Popular Company Awards 2026, while its Chief Financial Officer, Helmy Yusman Santoso, was recognized with the Popular PR Person Awards 2026. The dual recognition highlights both the institutional and individual dimensions of corporate reputation.
For TBIG, the awards arrive as telecommunications infrastructure is becoming increasingly important to the global digital economy. Mobile connectivity, cloud services, artificial intelligence and digital commerce all depend on reliable physical infrastructure capable of supporting growing volumes of data and increasingly sophisticated applications.
The company’s latest recognition therefore provides a useful lens through which to examine a broader transformation taking place across the telecommunications sector: infrastructure providers are increasingly expected to combine operational scale with innovation, financial discipline, governance and stakeholder trust.
Reputation Moves Closer to the Core of Infrastructure Strategy
Telecommunications infrastructure is traditionally viewed through physical indicators such as towers, sites, tenants and network coverage.
Those indicators remain fundamental.
However, the industry has evolved considerably. Infrastructure providers now operate within increasingly complex ecosystems involving telecommunications operators, investors, technology companies, regulators, local communities and governments.
As a result, corporate reputation has become increasingly connected to business performance.
TBIG’s own corporate profile illustrates the scale involved. The company, established in 2004 and listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange since 2010, reports more than 24,000 telecommunications sites and more than two decades of industry experience.
At this scale, communication is not simply about publicity. It is about maintaining confidence among stakeholders whose relationships with the company can extend for many years.
A Broader Record of Recognition
The 2026 PR Popular Awards are part of a broader pattern in TBIG’s recent corporate recognition.
The company received the Indonesia Top Digital PR Awards 2026 in March, recognizing its efforts to optimize public relations and corporate communication through digital platforms. TBIG says its digital communication strategy focuses on providing credible, transparent and relevant information to stakeholders.
TBIG also received two awards at the Asia Telecom Awards 2026 in Singapore: Digital Initiative of the Year and AI Initiative of the Year. The company said the awards recognized digital initiatives and the use of artificial intelligence to improve operational efficiency and telecommunications infrastructure management.
Taken together, the awards suggest that the company’s development is increasingly being evaluated across several dimensions rather than infrastructure scale alone.
Digital Transformation Is Reshaping the Sector
The telecommunications infrastructure industry is entering a phase in which digital technologies are becoming increasingly important to asset management and operational efficiency.
Artificial intelligence can support predictive maintenance, asset monitoring, energy optimization and operational decision-making.
For infrastructure providers managing thousands of sites, even relatively small improvements in efficiency can have significant aggregate effects.
TBIG’s recognition at the Asia Telecom Awards indicates that the company is pursuing this direction. Its stated use of AI for operational efficiency and infrastructure management places technology at the center of its development strategy.
This trend is not unique to Indonesia. Infrastructure companies across global markets are increasingly exploring technology as a means of improving the economics and reliability of large-scale networks.
The Numbers Behind the Business
The strategic importance of TBIG’s communications strategy becomes clearer when viewed alongside its operating scale.
For full-year 2025, TBIG reported IDR6.91 trillion in revenue and IDR5.941 trillion in EBITDA. At the end of December 2025, the company reported 24,321 telecommunications sites and 41,892 tenants, with a tenancy ratio of 1.73.
During the first quarter of 2026, the company reported revenue of IDR1.718 trillion and EBITDA of IDR1.465 trillion. Its portfolio at the end of March consisted of 24,666 telecommunications sites and 41,764 tenants.
These figures demonstrate the scale of the infrastructure platform behind the corporate narrative.
For stakeholders, communication therefore has to address not only reputation but also operational performance, financial strategy and future investment requirements.
Financial Discipline Remains Important
Infrastructure businesses are generally capital-intensive.
Expansion, maintenance and technology upgrades require substantial investment, while financing structures must be managed carefully over long periods.
TBIG’s shareholder meeting in June 2026 approved a cash dividend of IDR1.0599 trillion, equivalent to approximately 74% of the company’s 2025 net profit, or approximately IDR47 per share.
Such disclosures are important because they connect corporate communication with capital allocation.
Investors are not only interested in how a company presents itself. They also need visibility into how management balances growth, financing, shareholder returns and long-term resilience.
Governance as a Global Benchmark
The evolution of corporate reputation is also closely linked to governance.
TBIG received the Top GCG Awards 2025 and Indonesia Best Corporate Secretary Awards 2025, with the company highlighting transparency, accountability, ethical governance, regulatory compliance and information disclosure.
This is increasingly relevant for infrastructure companies operating in an environment where stakeholders include international investors and multinational telecommunications operators.
Strong governance provides the framework for responsible decision-making.
Effective corporate communication then provides the mechanism through which those decisions can be understood by stakeholders.
Sustainability Expands the Definition of Performance
Another major shift in the global infrastructure sector is the increasing importance of environmental and social considerations.
Telecommunications infrastructure requires energy, physical assets and ongoing maintenance. Consequently, questions surrounding energy efficiency, emissions, resource use and community impact are becoming increasingly relevant.
TBIG has received multiple recognitions related to sustainability, including a Gold Rank at the 2025 Asia Sustainability Reporting Rating (ASRRAT) and awards related to corporate social responsibility and emissions reduction.
These developments indicate that the definition of corporate performance is expanding.
Financial results remain essential, but investors and stakeholders increasingly evaluate how companies manage environmental and social responsibilities alongside financial performance.
Beyond Indonesia’s Domestic Market
Although TBIG’s infrastructure operations are primarily associated with Indonesia, the strategic themes surrounding its development are global.
Every major digital economy faces similar challenges: how to expand connectivity, manage infrastructure efficiently, control costs, integrate emerging technologies and maintain public confidence.
Indonesia’s position as Southeast Asia’s largest economy makes developments in its telecommunications infrastructure sector particularly relevant to regional observers.
The country’s expanding digital ecosystem creates demand for infrastructure capable of supporting increasingly data-intensive services.
The Human Dimension of Corporate Reputation
The recognition of Helmy Yusman Santoso as Popular PR Person 2026 also highlights an often-overlooked element of corporate reputation: people.
Technology can strengthen communication, but institutional credibility ultimately depends on individuals making decisions, explaining strategies and responding to stakeholders.
For listed companies, this becomes particularly important during periods of financial reporting, corporate transactions, strategic investment or market uncertainty.
The credibility of senior executives can influence how effectively complex information is communicated.
Building Capability for the Next Generation
TBIG’s corporate development also extends beyond technology and finance.
In 2026, the company continued its vocational education program, with the number of participating vocational schools reaching 60 schools across Java, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Kalimantan and Papua. The program had benefited more than 3,130 students and 166 teachers since its launch in 2018.
The initiative demonstrates another dimension of infrastructure development: human capital.
As telecommunications technology becomes more sophisticated, the industry requires technicians and professionals with appropriate technical capabilities.
Investment in skills therefore becomes part of the broader infrastructure ecosystem.
What the Awards Mean for the Industry
The significance of TBIG’s two PR Popular Awards extends beyond the company itself.
The recognition reflects how the telecommunications infrastructure industry is changing.
Infrastructure companies are no longer judged solely by the size of their physical assets. Their ability to communicate, innovate, govern responsibly and create long-term stakeholder value is becoming increasingly important.
This is particularly relevant as artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies change the economics of infrastructure management.
Companies that successfully combine technology with strong governance and communication may be better positioned to compete for capital and strategic partnerships.
A Global Trend with Regional Implications
The TBIG case illustrates a broader global transition.
Telecommunications infrastructure is becoming an increasingly strategic component of economic competitiveness.
Countries need reliable networks to support digital businesses, public services, financial systems, education and emerging technologies.
Infrastructure providers, meanwhile, must demonstrate that they can operate these assets efficiently and responsibly.
That makes corporate reputation increasingly relevant to the global infrastructure sector.
Looking Ahead
The challenge for TBIG will be to convert recognition into sustained institutional value.
The company has already established a record of recognition in digital public relations, telecommunications innovation, governance, sustainability and corporate performance.
The next phase will require continued investment in technology, operational efficiency and human capital while maintaining financial discipline.
At the same time, stakeholder expectations will continue to rise.
Investors will demand transparency.
Customers will expect reliability.
Governments will increasingly focus on digital resilience.
And communities will pay greater attention to environmental and social impacts.
Conclusion
TBIG’s two recognitions at the 7th PR Popular Awards 2026 demonstrate how corporate reputation is becoming increasingly integrated into the strategic agenda of telecommunications infrastructure companies.
The recognition of both the company and its CFO reflects two complementary dimensions: institutional credibility and professional leadership.
More importantly, TBIG’s broader record points to a company operating at the intersection of several major trends — digital transformation, artificial intelligence, infrastructure expansion, governance, sustainability and human-capital development.
For the global telecommunications industry, the lesson is increasingly clear.
The infrastructure of the digital economy is not built solely from towers, networks and technology.
It is also built from trust.
And maintaining that trust requires companies to demonstrate that their communication is supported by measurable performance, responsible governance and a clear long-term strategy.
Sources
SINDOnews — TBIG Raih Dua Penghargaan Bergengsi di Ajang 7th PR Popular Awards 2026
