After banning iPhone 16, Indonesia now blocks Google Pixel phones in the country

Indonesia has banned another flagship smartphone in the country. After a few days of blocking the iPhone 16 series, it has stepped forward to halt the Google Pixel sale.

In Short

• Indonesia bans Google Pixel sales due to concerns over compliance with local production
• The country's policy mandates 40 per cent of local content
• The sale of iPhone 16 is also banned in Indonesia

A few days after the country banned the iPhone 16, Indonesia moved ahead to block the sales of Google Pixel smartphones. This decision underscores the government's increasing scrutiny of foreign smartphone manufacturers and their compliance with local regulations. The Indonesian 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 businesses in the competitive tech sector.

The Indonesian Ministry of Industry has announced that Google’s smartphones cannot be sold in the country until they meet regulations mandating that 40 per cent of their content is sourced locally. According to spokesperson Febri Hendri Antoni Arief, Google must secure 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 enhance value creation while strengthening the domestic industry.”

The ban on Google Pixel 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 with local manufacturing requirements. The Indonesian government has been vocal about its desire for technology companies to establish production facilities within the country, arguing that this would create jobs and boost the local economy. The restrictions are seen as a way to ensure that foreign companies contribute to Indonesia's economic growth.

As of now, Apple has invested 1.48 trillion rupiah out of a committed 1.71 trillion rupiah, leaving a shortfall of 230 billion rupiah. This gap impacts the issuance of the TKDN (Domestic Component Level) certification, which mandates a 40 percent local content requirement for foreign devices sold in Indonesia. This situation escalated 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 pledge to further invest in Indonesian facilities, including the establishment of local Apple Academies for R&D, the iPhone 16’s future 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 tech companies could either encourage them to invest in local manufacturing or drive them to seek markets with fewer restrictions. As the situation develops, both consumers and industry stakeholders will be watching closely for any changes in the regulatory environment that may impact the future of smartphone sales in Indonesia.