Tech Fans In Indonesia Left Frustrated After The Country’s Apple And Google Bans

Tech enthusiasts like Winston, a medical doctor from North Sumatra interviewed by Al Jazeera, were left disappointed by Indonesia’s recent ban on the sale of the iPhone 16 and Google Pixel phones. The move is part of the government’s enforcement of the Tingkat Komponen Dalam Negeri (TKDN) policy, which mandates that at least 40% of smartphone components be locally sourced. While the policy aims to boost domestic industry, it has curbed the aspirations of consumers eager for cutting-edge technology.

Winston, a devoted Apple fan, already owns an iPhone 15 and was eagerly anticipating upgrading to the iPhone 16. However, he now faces uncertainty, haunted by a previous experience with his imported iPhone 11. Despite complying with regulations and registering the device as required, the phone abruptly lost its signal in 2022, rendering it unusable and leaving Winston burdened with significant paperwork and costs.

Indonesia, one of the world’s largest smartphone markets with 190 million users as of 2022, has been significantly impacted by the ban. Before it was implemented, around 22,000 Google Pixel phones and 9,000 iPhone 16s had already been imported, according to data from the Ministry of Industry. However, the market continues to be dominated by Chinese brands like Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo, alongside South Korea’s Samsung.

Critics argue that the ban stifles consumer choice and could have broader economic repercussions. While iPhones are expensive, they enjoy high levels of user satisfaction, notes lawyer Abdul Soleh. On the other hand, Khairul Mahalli, chairman of the North Sumatra Chamber of Commerce, warns that the policy might provoke retaliatory trade measures from other countries.

Khairul advocates for a balanced approach, suggesting that Indonesia should protect local industries without shutting its vast market off to global products. Consumer advocacy groups, such as the Indonesia Consumers Organization, caution buyers to exercise care when purchasing banned models from unauthorized resellers.

This situation highlights the challenges Indonesia faces in balancing industrial policy objectives with consumer demands in its rapidly evolving technology landscape—a complex case study in reconciling local development goals with global market dynamics.