500 Thousand New SIM Card Activation Every Day, Komdigi Prepares Permen To Prevent Identity Abuse

SIM Card illustration (photo: Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Director General of Digital Ecosystems of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, noted that there are at least 500 thousand to 1 million new SIM card activations every day in Indonesia.

Thus, the number of SIM cards activated in a month is around 15-20 million. Currently, the total active SIM cards have reached 308-315 million. This number is more than the total population of Indonesia, which is 280 million people.

"I've had fun checking in one month, not long ago, a few months ago, do anyone know how many new daily number activations are in Indonesia? Now every day it's at least 500 thousand, and there are certain days up to 1 million people," said Edwin at the Ngopi Bareng Komdigi event on Friday, November 14.

This massive activation flow then creates potential identity abuse, ranging from registration to using fake NIK to the circulation of fictitious numbers for online fraud, phishing, to the spread of spam accounts.

Menkomdigi Meutya Hafid in his personal Instagram account stories @meutya_hafid said that Komdigi was preparing a Ministerial Regulation (Permen) regarding the rules for governance of SIM cards.

"So far most sim cards have been sold too freely. Also talk to cellular operators because they are obliged to overcome this. Once all stages are ready, the candy that regulates operator obligations in ensuring every purchase of SIM cards must be with the appropriate NIK, will be issued," he wrote.

Responding to the upload, Edwin emphasized that this rule would not make it difficult for the public to buy and get a SIM card. He stated that this only regulates the registration.

"Number one, there is no word to make it difficult. SIM cards can still be purchased anytime and anywhere. What is requested now is, if in the past many liked to buy SIM cards using other people's ID cards," he said.

Therefore, the government encourages cellular operators to implement a biometric-based verification system using face recognition, as a step that can ensure a real-time match between NIK and SIM card owners.

"Now it's still only for eSIM, but later the regular SIM card will also be asked. But there is a transition period of approximately 1 year. The existing one is also slowly being asked to update the data," he concluded.