Indonesia blocked the sale of Google Pixel smartphones for failing to meet domestic content rules, only days after prohibiting Apple’s iPhone 16 in Southeast Asia’s largest phone market.
According to Bloomberg, the Indonesian Ministry of Industry highlighted Google’s failure to comply with requirements requiring at least 40% locally produced components in smartphones supplied in the nation.
This regulation, known as the “Domestic Component Level” (TKDN) certification, is part of Indonesia’s overall plan to promote domestic production and protect local enterprises.
The Indonesian legislation compels IT companies to source 40% of their mobile and tablet components domestically, which can be accomplished through local manufacture, firmware development, or direct investment in innovation programs.
According to a Ministry of Industry official following a press briefing, 22,000 Pixels have already arrived in the country via personal shipments or carry-on items.
Newsng learnt that the limitation does not apply to tourists or local people who want to buy a Pixel outside of the country and legitimately import it after paying the appropriate taxes. Those that do so may continue to use their devices freely.
Google’s Pixel phones are not officially distributed in Indonesia, while the Pixel 9 was distributed in other surrounding regions. This does not include resale or imported Pixel devices from official regions.
While other major phone manufacturers, such as Samsung and Xiaomi, apparently met the local content criterion by establishing manufacturing facilities in the country, Apple has chosen developer academies as a compliance strategy.
The restrictions on the Google Pixel and Apple iPhone 16 reflect the Indonesian government’s growing concern about foreign smartphone manufacturers’ compliance with local legislation.
We earlier reported that during a meeting with the Indonesian president Microsoft’s CEO promised to invest $1.7 billion in cloud computing and AI to support the development of the AI infrastructure in the archipelago.
