Will Internet Data Quotas No Longer Expire After the Constitutional Court Ruling? An IPB University Consumer Expert Weighs In
The Constitutional Court’s (MK) ruling regarding the validity period of internet data quotas is seen as a breath of fresh air for consumers. This is because the policy of forfeiting remaining data quotas once an internet package’s validity period expires has long been viewed as placing consumers at a disadvantage.
IPB University consumer behavior expert Prof Ujang Sumarwan views this ruling as a positive signal demonstrating the government’s commitment to protecting consumer rights. He urges telecommunications operators to immediately follow through on the ruling by ensuring that unused data quotas can still be utilized in the next billing period.
“This decision is very positive because it protects the interests and rights of consumers who have long been ‘resigned’. Deep down, consumers understand that (data expiring) is detrimental, but because they have little bargaining power, they couldn’t do anything about it,” said Prof Ujang.
With this provision in place, Prof Ujang noted, the assurance that purchased data won’t easily expire has the potential to boost consumer confidence in telecommunications operators, as consumers feel their rights are protected.
“Actually, this is a positive sign and boosts consumer confidence in mobile operators,” he stated.
Protection Through Diverse Services
However, in essence, this new ruling does not require mobile operators to eliminate package validity periods so that they remain valid indefinitely. The content of Constitutional Court Ruling No. 273/PUU-XXIII/2025 places greater emphasis on the existence of consumer protection mechanisms.
On its official website, the Constitutional Court states that this protection does not have to take the form of a uniform service but can be provided through a variety of flexible package options. Forms of protection may include quota accumulation or rollover, extension of the validity period, transfer of benefits, compensation, refunds, or other forms of protection.
In this regard, Prof Ujang believes that the simplest and fairest mechanism is to provide an automatic extension of the quota usage period until the entire quota has been used up.
“If a consumer purchases a 10;giga package, that’s it. The subscription renews automatically. If the data hasn’t been used up, it can still be used. If they add more data, they can keep using it. This makes things easier for both the company and the consumer because there’s no need to go through the process of calculating and filing for compensation,” he explained.
Prof Ujang also reminded the public not to hesitate to file a complaint if they feel they’ve been wronged. “Submit your complaint to the mobile operator or the National Consumer Protection Agency. So, consumers should voice their dissatisfaction if they feel they’ve been wronged,” he said.
Ultimately, consumer protection and empowerment require active participation from various parties. Consumers need to be more critical by reading the terms and conditions and considering the benefits of a service before making a purchase.
On the other hand, the government, educational institutions, and community organizations also play a role in educating consumers so they can better understand their rights and avoid being taken advantage of when using telecommunications services. (Ez) ( IAAS/HNY)
