Indonesia has extended its crackdown on foreign smartphones, halting the sales of Google Pixel devices shortly after banning Apple’s iPhone 16 series. The root of the issue lies in the government’s strict requirement for 40% local content, a threshold neither Apple nor Google has met. According to Indonesia’s Ministry of Industry, around 22,000 Pixel devices have already entered the country through personal shipments or carry-ons, bypassing the official sales channel.
Under the regulations, tech giants must fulfill the local content requirement by manufacturing or assembling devices within Indonesia, investing in software development, or establishing research and development centers locally. Some experts see these policies as a strategic move by Indonesia to attract larger foreign investments.
As Southeast Asia’s largest economy, with a GDP surpassing $1 trillion, Indonesia represents a significant market for smartphone companies. The country anticipates up to 350 million active mobile phones in the near future, well beyond its population of 285 million, signaling enormous potential for growth in the mobile sector.
