The Implementation Of Biometric Registration Is Carried Out Gradually, Here Are The Constraints

Director General of Digital Ecosystems, Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs Edwin Hidayat Abdullah (photo: Dinda Buana/VOI)

JAKARTA - A few months ago, the government issued Regulation of the Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) Number 7 of 2025 concerning the Utilization of ESIM Technology in the Implementation of Telecommunications.

Not only that, especially the Directorate General of Digital Ecosystems also released a Circular Letter of the Director General of Digital Ecosystem Number 5 of 2025 concerning the Implementation of Telecommunication Service Customer Registration by Using Biometric Population Data.

This policy is expected to suppress the circulation of illegal mobile numbers and increasingly widespread spam. However, unfortunately, Director General of Digital Ecosystems Edwin Hidayat Abdullah revealed that this biometric adoption cannot be done simultaneously.

Because according to him, there are still some obstacles, including the quality of the device that is capable of being uneven. Because the biometric technology intended in the regulation requires a camera with good quality.

"Because not everyone has a good gadget, the camera is good. So it is difficult to get more than 95% accuracy," Edwin told the media on Friday, May 16 at the Komdigi office, Jakarta.

Because the device is not capable, they have to go to cellular operator outlets to register biometrics. However, if millions of people come there, it will be at risk of creating very long queues.

Based on the data they got, the number of active SIM cards currently recorded reaches 315 million, far exceeding the total population of Indonesia, which is around 280 million people.

Therefore, in the future, the Ministry of Communication and Digi will implement biometrics in stages, adjusting the readiness of technology in society and operators.

"If 315 million active SIMs come there, they won't be able to. So it must be done gradually. Now we will start with customers who have registered the eSIM," he said.