Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) is introducing private registration booths at mobile operator outlets nationwide to support the rollout of mandatory biometric SIM card registration, ensuring greater privacy and comfort for women who wear hijab during facial verification.
The initiative is part of the government’s effort to make biometric registration more inclusive while strengthening digital identity verification. The enclosed booths allow female customers to temporarily uncover their faces in a secure and private environment when completing facial recognition procedures required for SIM activation.
Minister of Communication and Digital Meutya Hafid highlighted the importance of inclusive implementation during a recent evaluation meeting with mobile network operators at the Joint Commitment for Biometric Customer Registration event in Jakarta. She welcomed the availability of dedicated booths at several operator stores and encouraged providers to expand the facility across more locations.
According to Meutya, privacy should remain a priority for customers who may feel uncomfortable undergoing biometric verification in open public areas. She also urged operators to ensure registration facilities are accessible to people with disabilities, emphasizing that digital public services must accommodate the needs of all users.
The ministry has instructed mobile operators to eliminate any alternative registration process that bypasses biometric verification. Officials believe a standardized verification system is essential to improving the integrity of Indonesia’s telecommunications ecosystem.
Komdigi’s Directorate General of Digital Ecosystem continues to oversee nationwide implementation, ensuring registration booths are available and that customer data is handled according to established privacy procedures. During biometric enrollment, trained staff accompany customers while maintaining confidentiality throughout the verification process.
Biometric SIM registration became mandatory on July 1, 2026, under Ministerial Regulation No. 7 of 2026, following pilot testing that began in January. The policy is designed to reduce digital crimes committed using anonymous or fraudulently registered mobile numbers by verifying users through facial recognition.
Government data from the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration (Dukcapil) shows that more than 10.03 million subscribers had completed biometric verification by mid-July 2026. The long-term objective is to extend protection to Indonesia’s 291.16 million active mobile subscribers.
Komdigi is also collaborating with the National Cyber and Crypto Agency (BSSN) to develop a National Registration Check application. Scheduled for launch within the next two months, the platform will enable subscribers to verify whether their identity has been used to activate mobile numbers and request the deactivation of unauthorized registrations if necessary.
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