ATSI admits that the registration of biometric SIM has the potential to cut off customers from Opsel

JAKARTA - The Association of All Indonesian Telecommunications Operators (ATSI) recognizes the implementation of SIM card registration with biometrics through face recognition (face recognition) has the potential to reduce the number of customers.

Especially, according to the Executive Director of ATSI, Marwan O. Baasir, from a group of users who often change cards in pursuit of certain promos from each mobile operator (opsel).

"Of course. Because people are lazy to switch cards, right. People are lazy to switch cards. In fact, why do people change cards? Chase promo, right?" said Marwan in a talk show held by ATSI on Wednesday, December 17 in Jakarta.

According to him, there are around 1-1.5 percent of customers who have the habit of switching cards for the needs of hunting for promos, and other needs.

"I measure 1.5% of customers who switch cards, 98.5% of which are stable and do not switch numbers. But the 1.5% of this, there are good people who use promos and so on," he added.

However, even though there will be a decrease in the number of customers, Marwan emphasized that telecommunications operators still support the policy in order to reduce digital crime.

Because, it is undeniable that cyber criminals continue to update their types of attacks using increasingly sophisticated technology.

"But we can't deny the situation of the dynamics of this digitalization crime, the digital activity changes dramatically, right. So finally the operator supports," he said.

Marwan assessed that the use of biometrics, especially face recognition, can reduce the potential for identity abuse compared to the old method which only relies on NIK numbers and Family Cards (NIK-NOKK).

"We don't say it's 100% decreased. But at least, this is the beginning where digital ID, it is clearer. Yes, yesterday's 4444 was clear, but many people have bad intentions (use NIK-NOKK of others)," he said.

Registration of biometric SIM cards will apply to new users, starting January 1, 2026 on a voluntary basis, and is expected to be fully implemented by July 6.