Politics · Indonesia · 1 hr ago
Indonesia plans free phones with digital accounts for aid payments
Indonesia plans to give people free phones linked to digital accounts, according to presidential climate and energy envoy Hashim Djojohadikusumo.
The government says the phones would let it send cash assistance directly to recipients instead of distributing physical cash.
The plan is linked to an effort to provide accounts to people who lack access to banking; Hashim said about 30% of Indonesians do not have bank accounts.
Bank Rakyat Indonesia and Bank Syariah Indonesia have been asked to help provide the accounts.
Hashim said each account would receive an initial balance of 50,000 rupiah, but the government has not announced who will qualify for a free phone or how they will be distributed.
The digital-account program is targeted to begin in early 2027, while its implementation details are still being discussed.
Indonesia plans to provide free mobile phones with digital accounts to help deliver government aid directly to recipients.
Special Presidential Envoy for Climate and Energy Hashim Djojohadikusumo announced the plan at a forum in South Jakarta.
The accounts are intended to serve people without bank accounts, estimated at about 30% of Indonesia’s population.
The government has named Bank Rakyat Indonesia and Bank Syariah Indonesia to help open the accounts.
Officials have not announced eligibility rules for the free phones, and the digital-account programme is targeted to begin in early 2027.
- Who
- The Indonesian government plans to provide the phones. Hashim Djojohadikusumo announced the plan.
- What
- Free phones with digital accounts are planned to deliver government aid directly to recipients.
- When
- The programme is targeted to begin in early 2027. The phone plan was announced on 13 October 2026.
- Where
- Indonesia; Hashim announced the plan at a forum in South Jakarta.
- Why
- The accounts are intended to help deliver government aid and reach people without bank accounts.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Airlangga Hartarto said the government was still discussing the digital-account programme and expected it to begin in early 2027.
Hashim Djojohadikusumo announced the plan to provide free phones with digital accounts at a forum in South Jakarta.
- Banks
- Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI) and Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI)
- Unbanked population
- About 30% of Indonesia’s population
- Initial account balance
- Rp50,000, according to CNBC Indonesia
- Target start
- Early 2027
2 sources
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What people are saying
Every citizen will be given a phone equipped with a digital account. All funds will be available there and sent to their respective accounts.
According to the World Bank, and I think the government agrees, 30 percent of our population does not have a bank account. They are outside the banking sector.
This year we are still discussing it. God willing, the programme will start in early 2027.