Indonesia: Biometric SIM Registration to Boost Digital Security

Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi) is set to roll out a phased biometric SIM card registration in 2026, a move aimed at strengthening the security of the national digital ecosystem. The ministry has taken extensive preparatory steps to ensure the implementation is smooth, secure and user-friendly.

“The ministry’s role is crucial in coordinating infrastructure, regulation and public understanding to make biometric registration effective,” said Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, Director General of Digital Ecosystem at Kemkomdigi.

Official directives have been sent to all mobile network operators, instructing them to establish the necessary infrastructure to support biometric registration. In parallel, the ministry is developing public communication strategies, including live discussions and expert talk shows on its official YouTube channel, to raise awareness and facilitate understanding among users.

Pilot projects have been underway since 2024, initially at mobile operators’ outlets for SIM replacement services. In early 2025, a pilot event was held at Jakarta’s Gelora Bung Karno complex, followed by additional trials nationwide later that year to reinforce readiness for a broader rollout.

The biometric SIM registration will be implemented in stages in 2026, starting with mobile operators’ outlets where users can receive direct assistance. The phased approach allows time for public education, recognizing that not all telecommunications users are familiar with biometric technology.

Edwin highlighted that biometric registration will enhance the validity of customer data, prevent misuse of mobile numbers and improve the overall security of digital services in an increasingly risky environment.

A six-month transition period will follow the introduction of the new ministerial regulation on telecommunications customer registration. During this period, the public can still register independently using a national identification number and family card number via SMS 4444 or a web portal. Registration can also be completed using biometric data through mobile operators’ portals.

“The ministry has asked operators to provide clear guidelines and step-by-step instructions on their biometric registration portals to make the process easy and convenient for users,” Edwin added.

The ministry expects that implementing SIM card registration based on biometric facial recognition will significantly curb digital crimes, which often exploit mobile numbers as a primary tool.

Edwin noted that cybercrimes such as scam calls, spoofing, smishing and social engineering fraud rely heavily on mobile phone numbers.

“Losses from digital fraud have exceeded Rp7 trillion (US$407 million). There are over 30 million scam calls every month and each individual receives at least one spam call weekly. This is why we are introducing facial recognition–based SIM registration,” he said.

The policy will be introduced for new customers starting January 1, 2026, in a voluntary, hybrid phase allowing users to register via their National Identification Number (NIK) or through facial biometric verification.

From July 1, 2026, biometric registration will become mandatory for all new users. The regulation is also expected to increase public confidence in digital services by reducing the risk of fraud and misuse of mobile numbers.

The regulation also aims to help operators clean up inactive numbers, as more than 310 million mobile phone numbers circulate in Indonesia, despite an adult population of around 220 million.

Facial recognition ensures SIM cards are activated only for verified owners, reducing the risk of numbers being misused for fraudulent activities such as hoaxes, online gambling, spam and other scams.

As of September 2025, over 332 million subscribers had been validated, but the Indonesia Anti-Scam Center (IASC) reported 383,626 fraudulent accounts, with total public losses reaching Rp4.8 trillion (US$279 million). The policy updates Ministerial Regulation Number 5 of 2021, which previously required registration using NIK and Family Card numbers, often vulnerable to misuse.