ICT Expert Clarifies Constitutional Court Ruling: Operators Not Obliged to Offer Unlimited Active Periods for Internet Quota

ICT Institute Executive Director Heru Sutadi has clarified that the Constitutional Court (MK) ruling regarding the elimination of forfeited internet quota does not mean all mobile operators are required to provide internet quota that lasts forever. According to him, the ruling still provides room for operators to develop flexible business models as long as they offer fairer choices for consumers.

The statement was made in response to the MK decision, which has sparked various interpretations among the public. He believes the public needs to understand the substance of the ruling to avoid misunderstandings about the obligations of telecommunications operators.

“This MK decision should not be interpreted as meaning that all quota services must be valid forever. Operators still have flexibility in arranging their business models,” Heru said in a written statement on Thursday, 13 August 2026.

According to Heru, the main mandate of the MK ruling is not to limit operators’ business models but to encourage the availability of more transparent and consumer-friendly service options.

He explained that mobile operators can offer various schemes so that customers’ remaining quota does not immediately expire when the active period ends. These schemes could include accumulating remaining quota (roll-over) to the next period, a refund mechanism, or other forms of compensation adjusted to each operator’s policy.

With these various options available, consumers can choose services according to their needs and financial capabilities, while operators retain the freedom to develop their products.

“The value that the public has previously paid for should still be valued as a service that is the consumer’s right, so that consumers can choose according to their needs, and operators remain flexible,” Heru explained.

Furthermore, Heru emphasised the importance of transparency in presenting internet package information. According to him, customers should receive easy-to-understand explanations regarding the amount of quota, the validity period, and the terms of use for each package.

He gave an example that internet services should be as easy to understand as reading an electricity meter, so that customers know exactly what services they are paying for and using. “Transparency regarding the package itself must be clear. For example, a 10 GB subscription, whether it is for daily use or specific times. The choice of packages should ideally be more varied, not jumping too far from 20 GB directly to 50 GB,” he said.