Kemkomdigi Proposes Reduced Biometric Verification Fees for SIM Card Registration

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemkomdigi) has written to the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) to propose a reduction in the biometric data verification fee charged to mobile operators for each SIM card registration.

Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid said her ministry is seeking a reduction in the biometric verification fee because the implementation of mobile number registration using biometric verification is intended to guarantee public security.

“We have already written to the Ministry of Home Affairs requesting a fee reduction. Ultimately, this policy aims to provide security for the public,” said Meutya after attending the Joint Commitment Declaration on the Full Implementation of Biometric Data-Based Customer Registration event in Jakarta on Thursday.

Meutya said the proposal for reduced biometric verification fees is still under discussion. She encouraged cooperation between Kemkomdigi and mobile operators in submitting the request to the relevant agencies.

“We hope the government and mobile operators can jointly submit the request for relief to the relevant agencies outside Komdigi, while we continue to coordinate,” she said.

Marwan said the proposal regarding biometric verification fees is still being discussed with the Ministry of Home Affairs.

“We are actually proposing Rp200 versus Rp600, and we hope this will be accepted by Dukcapil (the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration of the Ministry of Home Affairs),” said Marwan.

“We shall see how the discussion goes, because we are still in talks with Dukcapil,” he said.