Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Ministry of Communication and Digital announced that biometric facial verification will be mandatory for all new SIM card registrations beginning 1 July 2026, following a five-month trial that showed positive results and strong public acceptance.

“For new registrations, biometric verification will be fully implemented nationwide. There will be no more leniency after 1 July,” said Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, the Director General of Digital Ecosystem at the Ministry, on Friday (29/5/2026)..

The system has been tested by major operators including Telkomsel, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, and XL Smart. Data from the Indonesian Telecommunications Providers Association (ATSI) shows 1.4 million numbers were registered using facial biometrics between January and April 2026.

Edwin said that biometric verification reduces fraud, phishing, and identity theft, while improving trust in telecom services. Similar systems are already in place in Vietnam, Thailand, and South Korea.

(mg/ndt/pr/rs)