Key Takeaways
- Due to local content regulations, Google Pixel sales have been prohibited in Indonesia.
- This action comes after Apple’s iPhone 16 was recently banned for similar non-compliance.
- The purpose of the local content rule is to boost home production.
By outlawing the sale of Pixel phones, Indonesia has taken another step in enforcing local content laws in the nation.
The Indonesian government has declared the selling of Google Pixel phones to be unlawful, just days after announcing a crackdown on Apple’s iPhone 16.
A Bloomberg story claims that the Indonesian Ministry of Industry pointed to Google’s noncompliance with rules mandating that smartphones supplied in the nation have at least 40% locally produced components.
The “Domestic Component Level” (TKDN) certification program is a component of Indonesia’s larger plan to support domestic production and safeguard regional companies.
This action comes shortly after the iPhone 16 ban, which was put into place for comparable reasons. According to reports, Apple broke its pledges to the Indonesian government about investments, including funding for regional R&D centers.
With local production, firmware development, or direct investments in innovation, manufacturers can meet Indonesia’s local content criteria for smartphones, tablets, and other ICT devices.
Apple has chosen to use developer academies as a compliance method, while other major phone manufacturers, such as Samsung and Xiaomi, have reportedly established manufacturing facilities in the nation to meet the local content level.
The Apple iPhone 16 and Google Pixel bans show how closely the Indonesian government is monitoring foreign smartphone makers’ adherence to local laws.
These restrictions may compel international manufacturers to either increase their local investments or reevaluate their business plans in one of Southeast Asia’s biggest smartphone marketplaces.
