Strategic Public Relations for Digital Sovereignty and Environmental, Social, and Governance Integration in the Telecommunications Industry

Authors

  • Fani Lutfiyatun Nisa Universitas Slamet Riyadi
  • Widya Fatimatuz Zahra Universitas Slamet Riyadi
  • Gita Rahmawati Universitas Slamet Riyadi
  • Pramudya Ibnu Subrata universitas slamet riyadi

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56741/IISTR.jgi.002144


Keywords:

Corporate Reputation, Digital Sovereignty, ESG Integration, Integrated PR-Management, Telecommunications

Abstract

This study explores the strategic role of public relations (PR) within PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, conceptualizing it as an integral management function that drives market value and corporate resilience. Amidst the rapid digitalization and geopolitical uncertainties of 2025–2026, the research investigates how PR manages the intersection of digital sovereignty, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) integration, and market authority. Utilizing a conceptual research approach through a systematic literature review, this study synthesizes Excellence Theory and Stakeholder Theory to develop an Integrated PR-Management (IPM) model. The findings demonstrate that PR at Telkom acts as a strategic architect by transforming technical infrastructure initiatives such as the launch of the Satelit Merah Putih 2 and decarbonization efforts into authoritative narratives that enhance investor trust and secure regulatory legitimacy. Furthermore, the study highlights that effective PR communication, validated by external accolades like the PR Indonesia Awards, is essential for navigating B2B markets and mitigating reputational risks. The analysis emphasizes that digital reputation is a critical intangible asset, and the alignment of PR Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) with core business metrics is vital for long-term sustainability. The proposed IPM framework offers a roadmap for state-owned enterprises to navigate technological disruptions by bridging technical operational excellence with persuasive strategic communication. Consequently, this research underscores the necessity of reforming traditional siloed communication structures into AI-integrated, fluid units to maintain competitiveness in the 2026 digital era.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Fani Lutfiyatun Nisa, Universitas Slamet Riyadi

is an active undergraduate student in the Management Study Program at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Slamet Riyadi, Surakarta. Her research interests focus on strategic management, corporate communication, and the integration of digital reputation within organizational frameworks. She is dedicated to exploring how public relations functions serve as a strategic pillar for state-owned enterprises in navigating the complexities of the digital era and national sovereignty. (email: fanilutfiya37@gmail.com)

Widya Fatimatuz Zahra, Universitas Slamet Riyadi

is an active undergraduate student in the Management Study Program at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Slamet Riyadi, Surakarta. Her research interests focus on strategic management, corporate communication, and the integration of digital reputation within organizational frameworks. She is dedicated to exploring how public relations functions serve as a strategic pillar for state-owned enterprises in navigating the complexities of the digital era and national sovereignty. (email: zwidya503@gmail.com).

Gita Rahmawati, Universitas Slamet Riyadi

is an active undergraduate student in the Management Study Program at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Slamet Riyadi, Surakarta. Her research interests focus on strategic management, corporate communication, and the integration of digital reputation within organizational frameworks. She is dedicated to exploring how public relations functions serve as a strategic pillar for state-owned enterprises in navigating the complexities of the digital era and national sovereignty. (email: gitarahma871@gmail.com).

Pramudya Ibnu Subrata, universitas slamet riyadi

is a lecturer and researcher at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Slamet Riyadi, Surakarta, Indonesia. His primary research interests are focused on the fields of Marketing Management and Public Relations. With extensive academic experience, he has contributed to various national and international scholarly publications and continues to dedicate his expertise to the advancement of management studies within the Indonesian academic landscape. (email: udapramudya12@gmail.com).

References

P. A. Argenti, Corporate Communication, 7th ed. New York, NY, USA: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.

J. Cornelissen, Corporate Communication: A Guide to Theory and Practice, 5th ed. London, U.K.: SAGE Publications, 2020.

J. E. Grunig, Ed., Excellence in Public Relations and Communication Management. Hillsdale, NJ, USA: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1992.

Top Digital PR Index, "Digital Reputation Analytics and Industry Benchmarking Report 2025." [Online]. Available: https://www.topdigitalprindex.id. Accessed: Mar. 2026.

Kementerian Komunikasi dan Informatika, Laporan Tahunan Kedaulatan Digital: Evaluasi Infrastruktur Strategis Nasional. Jakarta, Indonesia: Kementerian Komunikasi dan Informatika, 2025.

N. Kshetri, The Global Cyber-Security Economy: Challenges and Opportunities in the Digital Age. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature, 2024.

PR Indonesia, "Pemenang Utama PRIA 2026: Dominasi BUMN dalam Komunikasi Strategis." [Online]. Available: https://www.prindonesia.co. Accessed: Apr. 2026.

P. Verhoeven and A. Zerfass, "Strategic communication management: A European perspective on theory and practice," Int. J. Strategic Commun., vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 1–6, 2015, doi: 10.1080/1553118X.2014.987856.

K. Hallahan, D. Holtzhausen, B. van Ruler, D. Verčič, and K. Sriramesh, "Defining strategic communication," Int. J. Strategic Commun., vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 3–35, 2007, doi: 10.1080/15531180701285244. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15531180701285244

D. Holtzhausen, Public Relations as Activism, 2nd ed. New York, NY, USA: Routledge, 2023.

F. P. Seitel, The Practice of Public Relations, 14th ed. Hoboken, NJ, USA: Pearson, 2025.

R. E. Freeman, Strategic Management: A Stakeholder Approach. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 2010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139192675

W. T. Coombs, Ongoing Crisis Communication: Planning, Managing, and Responding, 4th ed. Thousand Oaks, CA, USA: SAGE Publications, 2014.

PwC Indonesia, Global Digital Trust Insights 2026: Cyber Readiness as a Strategic Priority. Jakarta, Indonesia: PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2025.

T. Hess, C. Matt, A. Benlian, and F. Wiesböck, "Options for formulating a digital transformation strategy," MIS Quarterly Executive, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 123–139, 2016.

J. Motion, R. L. Heath, and S. Leitch, Social Media and Public Relations. New York, NY, USA: Routledge, 2022.

J. A. Ledingham and S. D. Bruning, Public Relations as Relationship Management. Mahwah, NJ, USA: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 2000. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781410604668

A. Booth, A. Sutton, and D. Papaioannou, Systematic Approaches to a Successful Literature Review, 2nd ed. London, U.K.: SAGE Publications, 2016.

H. Snyder, "Literature review as a research methodology: An overview and guidelines," Journal of Business Research, vol. 104, pp. 333–339, 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.07.039

A. Zerfass, D. Verčič, H. Nothhaft, and K. P. Werder, "Strategic communication: Defining the field and its core concepts," International Journal of Strategic Communication, vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 487–505, 2018, doi: 10.1080/1553118X.2018.1493485. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1553118X.2018.1493485

S. A. Bowen, "The ethics of strategic communication: From excellence to equity," Journal of Mass Media Ethics, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 1–15, 2024, doi: 10.1080/08900523.2023.2292011.

Sustainalytics, ESG Risk Rating Report: PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk – 2026 Update. Amsterdam, The Netherlands: Sustainalytics, 2026.

Bisnis Indonesia, "Ekspansi B2B Telkom: Mengamankan Sektor Perbankan Melalui Keamanan Data Berlapis." [Online]. Available: https://www.bisnis.com. Accessed: Mar. 2026.

Bisnis Indonesia, "Evaluasi Regulasi Data Nasional: Tantangan BUMN di Tengah Ekspansi Teknologi Global." [Online]. Available: https://www.bisnis.com. Accessed: Mar. 2026.

A. G. Scherer and G. Palazzo, "The new political role of business in a globalized world: A review of a new perspective on CSR," Journal of Management Studies, vol. 48, no. 4, pp. 899–931, 2011, doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6486.2010.00950.x. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6486.2010.00950.x

PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, Annual Report 2025/2026: Proyeksi ESG dan Transformasi Digital Telco. Jakarta, Indonesia: PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, 2026.

E. L. Arceo, Public Relations in the Digital Age. Cambridge, MA, USA: Academic Press, 2025.

D. L. Wilcox and G. T. Cameron, Public Relations: Strategies and Tactics, 12th ed. Hoboken, NJ, USA: Pearson, 2024.

Downloads

Published

2026-07-07

How to Cite

Nisa, F. L., Zahra, W. F., Rahmawati, G., & Subrata, P. I. (2026). Strategic Public Relations for Digital Sovereignty and Environmental, Social, and Governance Integration in the Telecommunications Industry. Jurnal Genesis Indonesia, 5(02), 224–233. https://doi.org/10.56741/IISTR.jgi.002144

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 02 (2026): Jurnal Genesis Indonesia

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2026 Fani Lutfiyatun Nisa, Widya Fatimatuz Zahra, Gita Rahmawati, Pramudya Ibnu Subrata

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

Plaudit

Most read articles by the same author(s)