Cellular Retailers unhappy with new sim card registrations

JAKARTA (IndoTelko) - Cellular Retailers in Indonesia seems unhappy with the new regulation regarding mobile sim card registrations. The Indonesian government has new policies that require mobile users to register their own SIM card sending ID and family card number through SMS or a direct visit to the official operator's outlets.

In the rules made by the Ministry of Communications and Informatics (Kominfo), prepaid registration using ID number and a family card is starting October 31, 2017. It is a self-registration and can be made by the customer for first three numbers they've owned by one operator. While for the fourth number and so on must be through the operator's official outlet.

"We support a program of controlling the use of prepaid sim card by the government that aims to validate data and accountability of the use of prepaid by the public. However, we can't agree to the limitation of self-registration 3 numbers per ID. This could eliminate our business, "said the Chairman of the Indonesian Cellular Unity Commerce, Qutni Tisyari SE.

According to Qutni, limiting the use of ID numbers for the first three numbers for self-registration will have a negative impact on cellular commerce by the community (outlets). All this time, traditional retailers have been at the forefront of the distribution of cellular products, with so many retailers outlet in whole parts of Indonesia.

"Prepaid card for retailers is the biggest profit-making commodity compared to other cellular products, including the derivative products, such as Internet Cards and 'easy to remember' card number. Even today, Internet cards are becoming a business trend in the cellular field. The restriction to use ID number on self-registration is our worry because the automatic prepaid card market becomes drastically reduced," he said.

In a meeting with Indonesian Telecommunication Regulatory Body (BRTI), Qutni and his association asked to be allowed to do the registration of user's fourth number and so on in their outlets or web. Unfortunately, there was no response from BRTI nor telco operators.

"The promise to do another meeting involving all operators, on 9 November," Qutni explained.

Telematics Observer Abimanyu Wachjoewidajat assesses the terms of the maximum limitation of registration independently which can only be for three numbers reflects the government did not see the reality in the field.

"Regulators seem to be claimed that three times for three mobile phone registrations, while there are segments of customers who are looking for profit from promotional offers," he said.

As an information, the government updated the way of prepaid registration by sending an SMS to 4444 with the format NIK #KK#. The re-registration process will take place until the end of February 2018.(es)