The sale, purchase, and use of the iPhone 16 has been banned in Indonesia due to unfulfilled promises made by Apple.
Industry Minister Agus Gumiwan Kartasasmita announced that all latest model Apple devices operating in the country will be considered illegal and will also warn consumers not to buy them from abroad.
The iPhone 16, which was released worldwide on September 20th, is subject to the ban along with the iPhone 16 Pro series and Apple Watch Series 10.
“If you see an iPhone 16 being used in Indonesia, we can confirm that it is an illegal device. Please report it to us,” Kartasasmita said.
The minister further explained that the device does not have an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) certification.
Why is iPhone 16 banned in Indonesia?
Kartasasmita pointed out that the necessary permits for the iPhone 16 have not been issued because promises from Apple have not been fulfilled.
According to reports, Apple has yet to fulfill its promised investment in Indonesia. The tech giant pledged to invest Rp1.71tn, but has only contributed Rp1.48tn (£77m), leaving a shortfall of Rp230bn (£12m).
Earlier this month, the Ministry of Industry announced that “Apple’s iPhone 16 cannot yet be sold in Indonesia as the extension of the TKDN certification is still pending and we are awaiting further investment fulfillment from Apple.”
To obtain TKDN certification in Indonesia, companies must meet a 40 percent local content value standard to sell products in the country. This certification process is directly related to Apple’s efforts to establish a research and development center in Indonesia, known as Apple Academy.
Febri Hendry Antoni Arif, a spokesperson for Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry, confirmed that the iPhone 16’s TKDN certification application is still under review, but that it depends on Apple fulfilling its investment commitments.
