16 April 2024
Telkomsel has launched an eSIM service for local customers, making it the last of the country’s major operators to do so, as the industry awaits upcoming eSIM regulations from telecoms regulator Kominfo.
Smartfren was the first telco in the market to launch eSIMs in 2019. Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and XL Axiata launched eSIM services late last year.
Telkomsel had been holding back on a domestic eSIM launch as it was ‘still assessing the industry’s readiness for adopting the new technology.’ The main reservation was that despite the advantages of eSIM in terms of cost savings, it could also make it easier for customers to churn to the competition.
Telkomsel’s president director Nugroho said that the eSIM service is “part of Telkomsel's efforts to provide innovative solutions that not only suit dynamic customer needs but also respond to the availability of handsets that have adopted features and eSIM technology that prioritizes convenience and practicality.”
Telkomsel is pitching its eSIM service as an all-digital experience that is seamless, easy and practical compared to physical SIM cards.
The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kominfo) is still working out how to best regulate eSIMs. Kominfo is mainly focused on the security aspect of eSIMs, particularly regarding personal data of users and how much control telcos have over eSIMs in cases where numbers are used for criminal purposes.
