Constitutional Court Hearing on Telecommunications: Operators Address "Expired Quota" Issue

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - At the Constitutional Court (MK) hearing, mobile operators dismissed concerns about expired quotas, stating that internet services are access-based. “What is provided to customers is the right of access to network capacity for a specific volume and period. Therefore, the term ‘expired quota’ is not appropriate,” said Vice President of Simpati Product Marketing, Adhi Putranto, before the panel of MK judges on Thursday (16/4/2026). Adhi from Telkomsel spoke at the continuation of the material review hearing for the Job Creation Law related to the telecommunications sector, with several mobile operators present. The hearing for Case Number 33/PUU-XXIV/2026 and 273/PUU-XXIII/2025 scheduled testimonies from related parties, namely the Indonesian Cellular Telecommunications Operators Association, Telkomsel, Indosat, XL, and PLN. According to Telkomsel, the term “expired quota” is not appropriate because what expires is the service validity period as per the agreement. Telkomsel emphasised the strategic role of telecommunications operators in supporting economic growth and the national digital ecosystem. Telkomsel stated that telecommunications services have now become a basic need for society, although their provision requires significant investment as it is a capital-intensive sector. “Telecommunications services are currently an important basic need for society,” said Adhi. “Mobile internet services are the provision of access to telecommunications networks, not a transaction of buying and selling goods that creates permanent ownership rights,” said Machdi Fauzi. Indosat added that internet packages are a contractual relationship between the operator and the customer that includes price, volume, and validity period as a unified service. Therefore, the end of the quota is a consequence of the expiry of the validity period, not the loss of customer-owned goods. Meanwhile, XL’s Chief Customer Experience, Sukaca Purwokardjono, stressed that all services provided comply with government regulations and are strictly supervised. XL also affirmed that internet quotas are not objects that can be owned. “What is sold is the service, not goods,” said Sukaca Purwokardjono, during the hearing.