By Indonesia has prohibited the sale and use of Apple’s iPhone 16 within the country. On Tuesday, Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita announced that any iPhone 16 in operation in Indonesia is considered unlawful, cautioning consumers against buying the device from abroad.
The iPhone 16 is deemed “illegal” in Indonesia.
“If an iPhone 16 is found operating in Indonesia, I can confirm that the device is unlawful. Please report it to us,” Kartasasmita stated, stressing that no International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) certification has been granted for the phone.
Indonesia’s iPhone 16 Ban Linked to Unmet Apple Investment Promises
- The ban is rooted in Apple’s failure to fully meet its investment obligations in Indonesia. While the tech company has invested 1.48 trillion rupiah ($95 million) of the pledged 1.71 trillion rupiah, there remains a 230 billion rupiah ($14.75 million) shortfall.
- “The Ministry of Industry cannot issue permits for the iPhone 16 yet because Apple still has outstanding commitments to fulfill,” Kartasasmita stated at his office.
- Earlier, the minister announced that the iPhone 16 could not be sold in Indonesia because the extension of the TKDN certification is still on hold, pending further investment from Apple.
- The TKDN (Domestic Component Level) certification mandates a 40% local content requirement for companies to sell products in Indonesia, with the certification process linked to Apple’s promise to establish R&D centers, known as Apple Academies, in the country.
This announcement follows Apple CEO Tim Cook’s visit to Jakarta in April, where he met with President Joko Widodo to discuss potential manufacturing plans in Indonesia. Cook had expressed that the company would “consider” the possibility of establishing production facilities in the country.
Despite the global launch of the iPhone 16 on September 20, the device, along with other new Apple products such as the iPhone 16 Pro series and the Apple Watch Series 10, remains unavailable in Indonesia.
Industry Ministry spokesperson Febri Hendri Antoni Arif confirmed that the TKDN certification application for the iPhone 16 is currently under review but is still dependent on Apple meeting its investment obligations.
