Government Bans Mobile Operators from Voiding Unused Internet Data
The government has officially banned mobile operators from deleting or voiding unused internet data that customers have purchased. Operators are also not permitted to charge additional fees to customers for maintaining or using the remaining data.
Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid stressed that internet data that has been paid for is the customer’s right. Therefore, remaining data must not simply disappear when the package’s active period ends.
“Data that has been paid for by customers is the customer’s right. Remaining data must not simply be voided and operators must not charge additional fees to maintain the remaining data,” Meutya said in a written statement on Saturday (29/8/2026).
The provision is set out in Circular Letter of the Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Number 4 of 2026 concerning the Obligation to Fulfil Service Choices and Protection of Remaining Data, issued on 28 August 2026.
This circular letter follows up on Constitutional Court Decision Number 273/PUU-XXIII/2025 dated 23 July 2026. According to Meutya, the regulation is necessary to ensure customers receive fair benefits from the telecommunications services they have paid for.
“We have also received many complaints from the public that operators have not fully complied with the Constitutional Court’s decision that customers’ remaining internet data must not be unilaterally voided when the package’s active period ends. So we issued this circular letter to ensure operators comply with legal policy in Indonesia,” she explained.
Through the regulation, the ministry also requires operators to provide a number of protection mechanism options for remaining data that customers can choose according to their needs. These forms of protection include data accumulation or rollover, non-rollover, extension of the active period, transfer of benefits, compensation, and refunds. Operators may also provide other forms of protection as long as they do not disadvantage customers.
Meutya said the policy changes the approach in telecommunications services. Customers must now be given the opportunity to determine services according to their needs and usage patterns.
“Previously, service choices were largely determined by operators. Now we are ensuring customers have a choice. Customers have the right to choose services that suit their needs and usage patterns, not the operator choosing for the customer,” she said.
In addition, operators are required to convey service information clearly and in an easily understandable manner. This information includes price, data volume, validity period, usage segmentation, fair usage terms, service termination, and the protection mechanism for remaining data.
This information must be conveyed simply and in an easily understandable manner. Operators are also required to provide an integrated monitoring channel so customers can check usage and remaining data from the selected service.
Operators are given a deadline of 28 September 2026 to submit a compliance report to the ministry. Thereafter, progress on compliance must be reported periodically every month.
The ministry will then conduct regular supervision to ensure operators comply with the provisions regarding protection of remaining data and service choices for customers.