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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Economy & Trade

Indonesia Bans Forfeiture of Unused Mobile Data

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Official statement New plan
  • Indonesian telecommunication operators must now protect customers' unused mobile data, preventing it from being forfeited.
  • This policy change stems from a Constitutional Court ruling that declared the forfeiture of expired internet data illegal.
  • Operators must offer various service options, such as data rollover or refunds, and provide clear education on data usage and policies.

Indonesians will no longer see their hard-earned internet data vanish into thin air. A new directive from the Minister of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) mandates that telecommunication operators protect unused mobile data, ensuring customers retain the value of their purchases.

This significant policy shift follows a Constitutional Court ruling in July, which affirmed that telecom operators cannot forfeit expired internet quotas. Minister Meutya Hafied stated that the remaining data is rightfully the customers' property, as it has already been paid for. "The remaining mobile data cannot simply be forfeited, and operators cannot charge additional fees to maintain the remaining quota," she confirmed.

The remaining mobile data cannot simply be forfeited, and operators cannot charge additional fees to maintain the remaining quota.

— Meutya HafiedMinister of Communication and Digital explaining the new policy on unused mobile data.

To comply with the ruling and ensure fair treatment, operators must now offer a range of service options. These include data rollover, where unused data carries over to the next period, or non-rollover options. Other choices may involve extending the active period, transferring benefits, providing compensation, or issuing refunds. The key is that customers must have choices that do not disadvantage them.

Customers have the right to choose the appropriate service.

— Meutya HafiedEmphasizing customer choice among the new service options.

Furthermore, the ministry requires operators to provide transparent and easily understandable education about all aspects of their data plans. This includes clear information on pricing, data volume, validity periods, usage conditions, and how remaining data is handled upon expiration. Operators must also establish accessible channels for customers to monitor their data usage and remaining balances.

Telecommunication companies have until September 28, 2026, to submit their compliance reports, with monthly updates to follow. Minister Hafied indicated that the ministry has been addressing public complaints regarding the previous practice, leading to the issuance of this circular to enforce legal compliance.

Therefore, we have issued this circular to ensure operators comply with Indonesian legal policies.

— Meutya HafiedStating the ministry's objective in issuing the new directive.
About this summary

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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