For years, registering a mobile SIM card in Indonesia only required an ID number and family card information. Starting July 1, 2026, that process will undergo a major change. The government is preparing to implement biometric SIM card registration nationwide, introducing facial recognition technology as a new layer of identity verification in an effort to strengthen digital security and combat cybercrime.
The policy was announced by the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), which said all mobile network operators have completed the necessary system adjustments ahead of the national rollout. Beginning July 1, 2026, customers will be able to complete biometric registration through operator service centers, mobile applications, and official websites.
Director General of the Digital Ecosystem at Komdigi, Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, explained that the measure is intended to improve public trust while protecting citizens from the growing threat of digital fraud, spam calls, phishing attacks, and the misuse of mobile numbers registered under false identities.
“All cellular operators have now completed system adjustments for the nationwide implementation of biometric registration starting July 1, 2026, through service outlets, applications, and the official websites of each operator,” Edwin said during the Biometric Policy Update Press Conference at Garuda Spark Innovation Hub in Central Jakarta on Friday, May 29.
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Under the new system, facial recognition technology will be used to verify a customer’s identity against population data managed by the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration (Dukcapil) under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The government says the process has been designed to be faster, more practical, and more secure than previous registration methods.
According to Edwin, biometric registration forms part of a broader effort to create a safer and more trustworthy digital environment.
“Biometric registration is part of the government’s effort to build a safer and more trustworthy digital space. With validated customer identities, the public is expected to be better protected from various fraud schemes based on mobile numbers,” he said.
Indonesia’s digital landscape has faced increasing challenges in recent years. Spam calls, phishing scams, abuse of one-time passwords (OTP), and the use of anonymous SIM cards for illegal activities have become recurring concerns. Edwin noted that many mobile numbers have been registered using fake identities or the personal information of other individuals.
The financial impact of cybercrime has been significant. Data from the Indonesia Anti-Scam Centre (IASC) and the Task Force for the Eradication of Illegal Financial Activities (Satgas PASTI) showed that reported losses from cybercrime victims had reached Rp9.5 trillion as of April 2026.
“So far, digital criminals have exploited weaknesses in identity validation to use mobile numbers anonymously. With biometric registration, the use of fake identities will become increasingly difficult, helping create a safer digital ecosystem for the public,” Edwin stated in an official release.
Beyond enhancing consumer protection, the government believes the policy will also contribute to a healthier telecommunications industry. More accurate customer databases are expected to reduce the circulation of illegal SIM cards and improve the quality of active subscriber data. In turn, this could help operators invest in network infrastructure more efficiently and target their resources more effectively.
One of the key concerns surrounding biometric systems is privacy. Komdigi emphasized that personal biometric information will not be stored by either mobile operators or the ministry itself.
“Facial verification is only used for the identity matching process with the Dukcapil database. Mobile operators function as verification channels, not as repositories for customers’ biometric data,” Edwin explained.
The ministry also stated that the system has been developed using international security standards. These include ISO 27001 certification and liveness detection technology that complies with ISO/IEC 30107-3 standards. These safeguards are intended to strengthen system security and prevent misuse of digital identities.
Preparations for the nationwide rollout have been underway for months. Since the beginning of 2026, the government and mobile operators have conducted pilot projects at several service centers. The trials reportedly demonstrated that biometric registration could improve efficiency, enhance security, and increase the accuracy of customer information.
Although the mandatory implementation begins on July 1, 2026, the government is also encouraging existing subscribers to voluntarily update their registration data. Customers who previously registered their SIM cards using only their National Identity Number (NIK) and Family Card number are being advised to complete biometric re-registration.
The new system will also give customers additional control over mobile numbers linked to their identities. Through biometric verification, users will be able to check which numbers are registered under their name and request the blocking of numbers suspected of being fraudulently registered.
“Through biometric registration, customers can utilize facilities to check which numbers are registered under their identity and request the blocking of numbers that appear to have been registered unlawfully,” Edwin said.
As Indonesia continues to confront rising cyber threats and digital fraud losses worth trillions of rupiah, the government sees biometric SIM registration as a critical step toward strengthening identity verification, reducing anonymous mobile number abuse, and creating a safer digital ecosystem for both consumers and businesses.
