Indonesia has granted telecommunications permits for five models of Apple’s iPhone 16 series, a step toward lifting the domestic sales ban on the devices.
However, the American tech giant still requires an import permit from the trade ministry before it can officially launch the smartphones in the country.
The approval, announced by Indonesia’s communications ministry on Friday, follows the issuance of local content certificates for 20 Apple products, including the iPhone 16 lineup, last week.
The five certified models include the iPhone 16e, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Indonesia, a nation of approximately 280 million people, had previously blocked the sale of iPhone 16 models over Apple’s failure to meet local content requirements.
Under current regulations, 40% of smartphone components must be locally sourced, a policy designed to strengthen domestic manufacturing. While this rule supports local industries, analysts warn it could deter foreign investment and lead to protectionist tendencies.
Apple has responded by pledging over $300 million in investments in Indonesia, focusing on component manufacturing plants and a research and development centre.
This aligns with its initiative to meet the local content requirements and secure long-term access to the Indonesian market. In contrast, Apple’s investments in Indonesia are still relatively small compared to its commitments in Vietnam and Thailand, where it has poured in $15.4 billion and $24 billion, respectively.
Indonesia’s mobile market is one of the largest in the world, with over 354 million active mobile phone connections—more than its population.
Given this scale, it is an important market for Apple, which faces competition from brands like Samsung and Xiaomi that have already made huge local investments.
Indonesia’s protectionist policies have also impacted other tech companies, with Google Pixel devices similarly restricted due to local sourcing requirements.
Even with the approval of telecommunications permits, Apple’s final issue is obtaining an import licence. This step makes it difficult to tell when the iPhone 16 series will officially hit Indonesian shelves.
Apple has yet to issue a statement on the development. However, confirming the permit issuance, Dwi Handoko, a senior communications ministry official, stated, “Five permits were issued as requested by Apple.”
