Control Number, Komdigi Will Issue ESIM Policy In The Next Two Weeks

ESIM illustration (photo: Axis)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Communication and Digital will soon issue policies related to the use of eSIM as a substitute for SIM Cards. This is done as an effort to modernize the telecommunications system in Indonesia.

In a Working Meeting (Raker) with Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives, the Minister of Trade, Meutya Hafid, said that this effort would reduce the misuse of SIM numbers from crimes.

"So, the SIM card will form into an eSIM, we will issue the rules. Of course it takes time, it takes a process until it actually happens, but we will issue it in the next 2 weeks," said Meutya on Tuesday, February 4 in Jakarta.

To support this effort, Komdigi asked cellular operators to update cellular number data to regulate the use of SIM cards, which amount to more than the total population in Indonesia.

According to Meutya, Komdigi noted that the number of active SIM Cards circulating in Indonesia reached 314 million. Meanwhile, the total population of Indonesia only reached approximately 280 million people.

"Obviously there is a gap in the number of SIM Cards which is too many. One NIK can have 100 or even 1000 numbers, yes, it must be brought under control," he said.

Meutya is clearly aware that this change may have an impact on the entire community. However, he asked all parties, including the DPR RI, to support Komdigi's efforts to reduce crime in the digital space.

"Later on, the community may be affected, as was the case in 2019. So there may be a little inconvenience, we ask for support from ladies and gentlemen as representatives of the people, to secure, be it data, or avoid people from crimes in the digital world that come from many SIM cards," he hoped.