Jakarta, May 29 -- The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs officially announced that SIM (subscriber identity module) card registration using facial biometric recognition will become mandatory nationwide starting July 1, 2026.

Director General of Digital Ecosystem at the ministry, Edwin Hidayat Abdullah, said the decision followed successful results from a five-month trial period and positive public response.

"Nationwide implementation of biometric-based SIM card registration for new users can now proceed in full. There will be no further leeway starting July 1, 2026," Abdullah stated in Jakarta on Friday.

After nearly five months of trials involving facial biometric verification for SIM card registration, Abdullah said the e...