Google, Apple Phones Face Ban in Indonesia Market

AFP

Indonesia: Indonesia has banned the sale of Google Pixel phones, citing non-compliance with local investment regulations, the Ministry of Industry announced.

This move follows a recent ban on Apple’s iPhone 16 sales, as Jakarta pushes for greater foreign tech company investment with a requirement that at least 40 percent of smartphone components be locally sourced.

“For Google Pixel, they have not obtained the TKDN certificate,” said ministry spokesperson Febri Hendri Antoni Arif at a press briefing Thursday, referring to the scheme enforcing the 40 percent rule.

“As long as those products don’t meet the required scheme, they cannot be sold in Indonesia,” he added.

Data from the industry ministry indicates that approximately 22,000 Google Pixel phones entered Indonesia this year.

Meanwhile, China’s Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo, along with South Korea’s Samsung, dominate the country’s smartphone market, as per Counterpoint Research’s second-quarter shipment data.

The ministry clarified that while blocked phones, including iPhone 16 models, cannot be sold commercially, they may still be brought into the country for personal use if not intended for trade.

Although Apple lacks an official retail presence in Indonesia, CEO Tim Cook visited the nation in April as the company explores potential investment opportunities.