Govt to block IMEI numbers of iPhone 16s found in market

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Industry Ministry has emphasized its readiness to block the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers of iPhone 16 series phones found in the Indonesian market.

Indonesia has banned the iPhone 16 series because the smartphone does not meet the domestic component level (TKDN) requirement.

“If there is evidence that the iPhone 16 series is being traded, we are prepared to deactivate its IMEI,” ministry spokesperson Febri Hendri Antoni Arif said on Thursday.

The government has also instructed online marketplace platforms not to promote or sell the iPhone 16 series.

“And, of course, we continue to urge marketplaces not to display the iPhone 16 series for sale,” he added.

As of November 10, 2024, 11,000 iPhone 16 units have entered Indonesia, brought in by international travelers for personal use.

The government is planning to implement a system to verify phones purchased abroad that enter Indonesia via passenger baggage. This system will re-check the IMEI registration through Customs to determine whether the phones are for personal use or intended for sale.

This measure aims to demonstrate the government’s commitment to preventing the illegal entry of products into Indonesia.

The government has reiterated that the iPhone 16 cannot be sold in Indonesia until Apple fulfills the 40 percent domestic content requirement.

In response, Apple has submitted a US$100 million investment plan over two years to the Industry Ministry.

According to Arif, the ministry is currently in discussions with the American technology company regarding the proposal. The investment plan includes the development of a research and development center and professional developer academy programs.

Arif also revealed Apple’s plan to start producing accessory components, such as AirPods Max mesh, in Bandung, West Java, beginning July 2025 — as part of Apple’s global supply chain.

Additionally, the Apple Academy is set to be developed in Bali and Jakarta by June 2026.

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