Indonesia’s prepaid SIM registration system is heading into a stricter phase as face recognition is set to replace the current NIK and KK-based verification. Starting 1 July 2026, mobile number activation will rely on biometric identity checks instead of only document data.
The policy is designed to strengthen customer data security and reduce misuse of mobile numbers in online fraud, spam, and fake-account activity. Officials also view the shift as part of a broader digital security upgrade as phone numbers remain deeply tied to daily communication and public services.
Why the industry is pushing back
The telecom sector’s main concern is not the technology itself, but the validation cost attached to it. The Indonesian Telecommunications Association, or ATSI, has asked the government to review the biometric data validation tariff charged by the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
That tariff is set at Rp3,000 per customer, a figure ATSI says may look small on paper but becomes significant when multiplied by millions of new subscribers each year. Marwan O. Baasir, ATSI’s executive director, said registration is fundamentally a state mandate to create a secure and orderly telecommunications ecosystem.
He argued that the cost should not be shifted to operators or the public. In comments cited by detik.com, Marwan said, “Rp 3,000 itu sedikit lagi (seperti membeli kuota data) 1 GB. Every citizen has the right to communicate. If communication requires registration, and registration requires payment to the state, the state should provide support there.”
How the cost is expected to work
The Ministry of Communication and Digital previously explained that the biometric SIM registration fee will not be charged directly to customers. Instead, the burden will fall on major operators such as Telkomsel, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, and XLSmart.
ATSI says that arrangement could still create a domino effect. Extra operational costs may influence business strategies, network investment plans, service efficiency, and, over time, the pricing of telecom services.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Biometric validation fee | Rp3,000 per customer |
| Expected start of face-recognition registration | 1 July 2026 |
| Major operators named | Telkomsel, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, XLSmart |
Why face recognition was chosen
From a technical perspective, face recognition is considered more accurate than manual verification. The system is intended to make identity checks stronger and reduce the chance of fake identities being used for mass registration.
By tying registration to biometric data, the government aims to make it harder for stolen personal information to be used in large-scale abuse. That priority has become more urgent as cases involving misuse of mobile numbers for illegal activity have increased in recent years.
Privacy concerns remain part of the debate
Even with the security case for biometrics, concerns about personal data protection have not gone away. The public is increasingly alert to how biometric data is stored, processed, and protected against leaks.
That means the new registration system will need more than technical readiness. It will also need strong governance to reassure users that sensitive identity information will be handled safely.
