Still Expensive, ATSI Proposes Reduction in the Cost of Verifying the New SIM Card Biometrics

JAKARTA - The Association of All Indonesian Telecommunications Operators (ATSI) hopes that the government can reduce the cost of biometric verification based on face recognition used in the registration of new SIM cards.

The Chairman of the General Association of Indonesian Travel Agents (ATSI), Marwan O. Baasir, assessed that the fee charged to operators of Rp3,000 for one verification of data to the Civil Registry and Civil Registration Office (Dukcapil) is currently still too high.

"(Verification) Face recognition costs Rp. 3,000. Yesterday it was discussed by the Minister of Finance to discuss again with the Civil Registry. We hope there will be incentives. That means the cost is reduced. Because this is actually the public's access to internet communication. The time yes it costs so much," said Marwan when met in Jakarta on Tuesday, June 23.

Marwan said that ATSI had applied for a review of the cost. According to him, the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) has also sent a letter to the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the evaluation of the cost of biometric verification.

ATSI hopes that the cost of face recognition verification can be suppressed, or even made free if it falls into the category of government programs that receive full support from regulators.

"Later we will see. If it can be free like that. Because this is a government program. In the PP it says that if a government program can get endorsement from Komdigi it can be Rp0," said Marwan further.

Meanwhile, Marwan reiterated that all mobile operators are ready to implement full biometric-based new customer registration on July 1.

With this new policy, new customers no longer use verification of the National Identification Number (NIK) and Family Card Number (KK), but only through facial matching.