Indonesia bans local sales and usage of Apple iPhone 16 series because of “certification issues”
The IMEI “certification” issue is IDR 230 billion short of “completion”. #apple #iphone #timcooked
Apple iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus from HWZ's reviews. Photo: HWZ.
Indonesia has officially banned the local use and sale of Apple’s iPhone 16 series, claiming that Apple did not fully comply with its prior “investment promises”.
In a 29 October 2024 statement by Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita (Minister of Industry, Indonesia), the country has declared iPhone 16 as “illegal” within borders, in part due to IMEI certification issues that have stalled in light of incomplete “investment commitments” that Apple needs to fulfill in the Indonesian archipelago.
As quoted by various websites:
“We, the Ministry of Industry, are yet to be able to issue permits for the iPhone 16 because there are still commitments that Apple must realise.” - Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita.
The commitment is a commonly used trade policy called Local Content Requirement (LCR). Indonesia requires 40% of the components of any goods and services to be domestically produced before they can be consumed or imported to Indonesia (with a few exceptions for specific goods or industries).
As such, Apple is expected to commit to research and development facilities across Indonesia and financially contribute to issuing IMEI certification for new iPhone devices. Of the IDR 1.71 trillion Apple has to cough out, the company is still short of IDR 230 billion (~S$19.34 million).
The new (and hopefully temporary) ban also extends to recently released Apple products, such as the Apple Watch Series 10.
Oh no, liddat, my personal iPhone 16, how?
According to the Jakarta Globe, iPhone 16 carried and used by flight crew members, travellers, and iPhone 16 devices shipped via courier services are permitted entry.
That means tourists or business travellers to Indonesia can still carry and use their existing iPhone 16 devices. However, like the rest of Indonesia, they are not allowed to sell any iPhone 16 while residing there.
Source: The Economic Times, Jakarta Globe
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