A few days later the country banned the iPhone 16Indonesia has decided to block sales of Google Pixel smartphones. The move underscores the government’s growing scrutiny of foreign smartphone makers and their compliance with local regulations. Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology cited reasons for the ban including concerns over compliance with local production regulations and the need for manufacturers to adhere to the country’s standards for technology and security. This regulatory environment is part of Indonesia’s broader strategy to encourage domestic manufacturing and protect local companies in the competitive technology sector.

Indonesia’s industry ministry has announced that Google’s smartphones cannot be sold in the country until they comply with regulations requiring 40 percent of their content to come from local sources. According to Febri Hendri spokesperson Antoni Arief, Google must obtain local content certification before it can resume sales. He explained to local media: “The local content requirements and associated policies are designed to ensure fairness for all investors in Indonesia and to improve value creation while strengthening the domestic industry. »

The Google Pixel ban comes shortly after Indonesia restricted sales of Apple’s latest flagship, the iPhone 16. The iPhone restrictions were largely driven by similar concerns about compliance local manufacturing requirements. The Indonesian government has made clear its desire for technology companies to establish production facilities in the country, arguing that this would create jobs and boost the local economy. These restrictions are seen as a way to ensure that foreign companies contribute to Indonesia’s economic growth.

Currently, Apple has invested Rs 1.48 trillion out of a commitment of Rs 1.71 trillion, leaving a deficit of Rs 230 billion. This gap impacts the issuance of TKDN (Domestic Component Level) certification, which imposes a 40% local content requirement for foreign devices sold in Indonesia. This situation worsened after Apple CEO Tim Cook’s recent visit to Jakarta, where he met with President Joko Widodo to discuss manufacturing possibilities. However, until Apple fulfills its commitment to invest more in Indonesian facilities, including the establishment of local Apple Academies for R&D, the future of the iPhone 16 in the Indonesian market remains in limbo .

Looking ahead, it remains to be seen how long the ban will last and whether it will prompt other foreign manufacturers to reconsider their strategies in Indonesia. The government’s approach to foreign technology companies could either encourage them to invest in local manufacturing or incentivize them to seek less restrictive markets. As the situation evolves, consumers and industry stakeholders will closely monitor any changes in the regulatory environment that may impact the future of smartphone sales in Indonesia.