Indonesia has banned the sale and use of Apple’s iPhone 16. On Tuesday, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita announced that any iPhone 16 operating in the country is illegal. He advised consumers not to buy the device abroad.
iPhone 16 Deemed “Illegal”
Kartasasmita said, “If there is an iPhone 16 that can operate in Indonesia, that means that I can say, the device is illegal. Do report it to us.” He emphasized that no International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) certification exists for this device.
Reasons Behind the Ban
The ban results from Apple’s failure to meet its investment commitments in Indonesia. The company has invested 1.48 trillion rupiah (about $95 million) of its promised 1.71 trillion rupiah, leaving a shortfall of 230 billion rupiah (around $14.75 million). Kartasasmita explained, “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 realize.”
Earlier this month, the minister stated, “Apple’s iPhone 16 cannot be sold in Indonesia yet because the extension of the TKDN certification is still pending, awaiting further investment realization from Apple.”
TKDN Certification Requirement
The TKDN (Domestic Component Level) certification requires companies to have at least 40% local content value to sell their products in Indonesia. This certification connects to Apple’s promise to establish research and development facilities, called Apple Academies, in the country.
This announcement follows Apple CEO Tim Cook’s visit to Jakarta in April. During that visit, he discussed potential manufacturing plans with President Joko Widodo. Cook indicated that the company would “look at” setting up manufacturing sites in Indonesia.
Impact on Apple Products
As a result of the ban, the iPhone 16, which launched globally on September 20, is unavailable in Indonesia. Other new Apple products, like the iPhone 16 Pro series and the Apple Watch Series 10, are also affected. Industry Ministry spokesperson Febri Hendri Antoni Arif confirmed that the TKDN certification application for the iPhone 16 is under review. However, approval depends on Apple meeting its investment commitments.
