Kemkomdigi says biometric SIM registration preparations in final stage
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemkomdigi) has stated that preparations for the implementation of biometric-based SIM card registration have entered the final stages ahead of its scheduled rollout in Indonesia on 1 July 2026.
Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, Director General of the Digital Ecosystem at Kemkomdigi, said the government is currently conducting a thorough review of system readiness and implementation procedures before an official announcement is made alongside mobile operators.
“On 1 July, all mobile operators and Komdigi will announce that the process is ready. We are in the final stages; we are reviewing everything,” Edwin said during an interview following the inauguration of DEAL 2026 in South Jakarta on Tuesday.
Edwin explained that the implementation of biometric registration will initially focus on the registration of new numbers. He noted that the government still needs to evaluate infrastructure readiness and system reliability before deciding whether a similar mechanism will be made mandatory for existing customers.
“The current focus is on new registrations first. We must observe the level of system reliability and other factors over the next six months,” he added.
Edwin explained that applying biometrics to all existing customers requires mature preparation because of the vast number of mobile numbers already in circulation in Indonesia.
Consequently, the government must also consider the readiness of systems within both mobile operators and the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration (Dukcapil) to ensure the verification process runs smoothly.
“There are so many numbers. It is impossible for hundreds of millions of people to undergo verification simultaneously. We must assess the infrastructure readiness, and that requires a process,” he said.
Kemkomdigi believes that utilising biometric verification in SIM card registration is a way for the telecommunications industry to protect the Indonesian public from harmful criminal threats, such as fraud, phishing, and identity theft.
In addition to protecting the public, the use of this technology is expected to strengthen public trust in telecommunications providers.
Considering the trial results, positive public response, and the readiness of telecommunications providers, Edwin stated there is no longer any reason to delay the implementation of new SIM card registration using facial biometrics.
Similar technology is not unique to Indonesia; many other countries, including Vietnam, Thailand, and South Korea, have already implemented biometric verification for mobile number registration.