Geospatial Information Agency Regulation No. 6 of 2025 Tightens Business Licensing in the Geospatial Information Sector

Introduction

On 12 December 2025, the Geospatial Information Agency (Badan Informasi Geospasial – “BIG”) issued Geospatial Information Agency Regulation No. 6 of 2025 on Business Activity Standards in the Implementation of Risk-Based Business Licensing in the Geospatial Information Sector (“BIG Regulation 6/2025”). This regulation establishes business activity standards for businesses in the geospatial information sector within the framework of the Risk-Based Online Single Submission (OSS) system.

BIG Regulation 6/2025 implements the mandate of Government Regulation No. 28 of 2025 on the Implementation of Risk-Based Business Licensing. BIG affirms the necessity of specific regulations on technical and administrative standards to mitigate risks in survey, mapping, and spatial data management activities. This regulation addresses challenges related to the standardization of geospatial data quality and ensures businesses’ compliance with qualification, certification, and integrated reporting obligations.

 

Key Provisions

Classification and Scope of Business Activities (KBLI 71102)

Under Articles 2 and 3, Businesses operating in the field of Geospatial Information (“GI”) are required to hold Risk-Based Business Licensing (Perizinan Berusaha Berbasis Risiko – “PBBR”) covering basic requirements and business activity standards. BIG Regulation 6/2025 classifies business activities into five (5) sub-classifications with a Medium-High (MH) risk level, as follows:

1. IG001 (Planning and Supervision): Covers the preparation of planning documents and supervision of data acquisition, using both terrestrial and photogrammetric methods.
2. IG002 (Terrestrial Data Acquisition): Includes field survey services such as geodetic control point measurement, situational surveys, utility surveys, and boundary determination.
3. IG003 (Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing): Covers acquisition services using aerial platforms (LiDAR, SAR) and satellites, as well as their processing (orthophotos, DSM/DTM).
4. IG004 (Hydrography): Includes tidal observation activities, shoreline measurement, and bathymetric surveying.
5. IG005 (Data Processing and Management): Covers database systems, spatial analysis, and the presentation of geospatial information.

Certification Obligations and Foreign Affiliation

Based on Annex I, Businesses are required to hold a Geospatial Information Service Provider Certificate issued by a Conformity Assessment Body accredited under SNI ISO/IEC 17065 and registered with BIG. For Foreign Investment Businesses (Penanaman Modal Asing – “PMA”), this regulation imposes stringent requirements in the form of mandatory affiliation or cooperation with domestic businesses. The cooperation documents must clearly set out the details of the parties involved, scope of cooperation, rights and obligations, duration, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

Routine and Incidental Supervision Mechanisms

Article 5 divides supervision into two types: Routine Supervision and Incidental Supervision. Routine supervision is conducted through the examination of businesses reports, annual corporate reports, and field inspections. BIG delegates these duties to Supervisory Officers with specific qualifications, namely Functional Survey and Mapping Officers (or equivalent) with a minimum performance rating of “good” over the past two years, or civil servants with at least two years of experience in the geospatial information field. Supervisory Officers are granted broad authority, including entering business premises, taking samples, inspecting equipment, and making audiovisual recordings on site.

Annual Reporting Obligations

Businesses are required to submit an Annual Business Activity Report. As stipulated in Annex II, the report must include investor data (including capital value), financial management performance data (including audited financial statements, if available), human resources data (including the number of employees certified in occupational health and safety), and a track record of project implementation (project name, partners, and contract value).

Sanctions

BIG imposes strict sanctions on violations of business standards as regulated under Article 19. These sanctions are applied progressively, starting from:

1. Written Warning: Issued a maximum of two (2) times, each with a validity period of ten (10) days.
2. Temporary Suspension: Imposed if the businesses disregard the second written warning.
3. Administrative Fine: Imposed if the businesses continue operations during the temporary suspension period or ignores warnings. The amount of the fine is determined by the Head of the Agency upon approval from the Minister of Finance.
4. Revocation of License (GI Sector Business License): The most severe sanction for businesses that continue to be non-compliant.

Closing

Businesses are now required to prioritize the possession of an ISO/IEC 17065-based Service Provider Certificate and ensure orderly administrative compliance through detailed annual reporting to avoid sanctions ranging from suspension to license revocation. For foreign investors, the obligation to partner with local companies constitutes a non-negotiable requirement, while simultaneously creating opportunities for technology transfer to domestic businesses.