Operators Burdened by Rp 3,000 SIM Card Biometric Fee, Komdigi Assists in Negotiations

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The government is discussing the fee for biometric registration of mobile SIM cards, as the current charge is considered too heavy.

Currently, mobile operators including Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, Telkomsel and XLSmart pay Rp3,000 for each biometric data matching transaction.

Minister of Communication and Digital (Menkomdigi) Meutya Hafid said the government has sent a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) requesting a reduction in the fee.

“We have already written to the Ministry of Home Affairs asking for a fee reduction. Ultimately, this policy aims to provide security for the public,” Meutya said at the Declaration of Joint Commitment for Full Implementation of Biometric Data-Based Registration at FX Sudirman, Jakarta, Thursday (23/7/2026).

According to her, the government does not want to view the biometric registration policy purely from a business perspective, as mobile operators are carrying out a state mandate to conduct biometric registration in order to protect the public.

“So, don’t just look at it from the business side. Operators are carrying out an assignment from the state to conduct biometric registration in order to protect the public,” she said.

Meutya said discussions on the fee reduction are still ongoing. The government is also continuing to coordinate with mobile operators and relevant agencies outside the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi).

“Discussions on this matter are still taking place. Hopefully the government and mobile operators can jointly submit a request for relief to the relevant agencies outside Komdigi, while we also continue coordinating,” Meutya said.

Speaking at the same event, Executive Director of the Indonesian Cellular Telecommunications Association (ATSI) Marwan O. Baasir said operators are still in discussions with the Ministry of Home Affairs, including the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration (Dukcapil), regarding the amount of the fee.

Marwan said operators had previously calculated a cost in the range of Rp70 to Rp200. However, ATSI is still holding discussions and submitting revised proposals to the relevant parties, so a final figure cannot yet be announced.

“We hope it will be below Rp1,000,” Marwan said.

ATSI has also proposed a fee scheme in the range of Rp200 to Rp600. According to Marwan, this proposal still needs to be discussed with Dukcapil, taking into account the operational costs incurred each year.

“Our proposal, we hope Dukcapil will accept it. Because we have to calculate the cost on a yearly basis,” he said.

Marwan also hopes the fee will only be charged for biometric matching processes that are successful. However, he again stressed that discussions on this scheme are still ongoing with Dukcapil.

Marwan affirmed that changing the fee requires a change in regulations, as the government needs to amend Government Regulation (PP) Number 10 of 2023.

“It is still Rp3,000 for now. Because Dukcapil also has to amend PP 10 of 2023 first. So the proposal must be made jointly, in discussion with Dukcapil and our colleagues from the finance side,” he said.

He hopes the discussion process can proceed quickly. However, to date the government and operators are still coordinating with Dukcapil regarding the new biometric registration fee.