Biometric registration for new mobile phone number starts July 1

hartono · May 29, 2026

Biometric registration for new mobile phone number starts July 1

Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, Director General of Digital Ecosystems at the Ministry of Communication and Digital, during a media discussion in Jakarta, Friday (29/5/2026). /ANTARA/Livia Kristianti

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs officially announced that SIM (subscriber identity module) card registration using facial biometric recognition will become mandatory nationwide starting July 1, 2026.

Director General of Digital Ecosystem at the ministry, Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, said the decision followed successful results from a five-month trial period and positive public response.

“Nationwide implementation of biometric-based SIM card registration for new users can now proceed in full. There will be no further leeway starting July 1, 2026,” Abdullah stated in Jakarta on Friday.

After nearly five months of trials involving facial biometric verification for SIM card registration, Abdullah said the evaluation showed that the systems operated by cellular providers - Telkomsel, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH), and XL Smart - had proven reliable.

According to data from the Indonesian Telecommunications Providers Association (ATSI), around 1.4 million new mobile numbers were registered using facial biometric verification between January and April 2026. On average, approximately 300,000 people acquire new mobile phone numbers each month.

Abdullah stated that the biometric verification process, particularly at mobile operator outlets, has demonstrated positive results based on the ministry’s evaluation.

He noted that no complaints or objections had been reported by customers purchasing new numbers through the verification system.

Trials conducted over recent months also showed that the process takes less than one to two minutes, making it faster than the previous registration system using the National Identity Number (NIK), National Identity Card (KTP), and Family Card data.

He further stated that biometric verification for SIM card registration is intended to protect the public from crimes such as fraud, phishing, and identity theft.

In addition to improving public protection, Abdullah said the technology would also strengthen trust in telecommunications providers.

Considering the successful trial results, positive public response, and the readiness of telecommunications providers, Abdullah said there was no reason to delay the nationwide implementation of biometric SIM card registration.

He added that Indonesia is not the only country adopting such technology, noting that Vietnam, Thailand, and South Korea have also implemented biometric verification systems for mobile phone number registration.