Internet quota regulations do not mandate 'rollover' mechanism
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Secretary of the Directorate General of Digital Infrastructure at the Ministry of Communication and Digital, Evan Fathurokhman Adiwidaja, stated that regulations regarding the protection of internet access quotas do not mandate mobile operators to implement a rollover mechanism for all offered internet service packages.
The implementation of a rollover mechanism allows the remaining internet quota from a previous subscription period to be added to a customer’s new internet access package.
“Regardless of the package, the most important thing is how it complies with the mandate of the (Constitutional Court) decision, ensuring that the quota can still be enjoyed and utilised,” he said during a press conference at the Ministry of Communication and Digital office in Central Jakarta on Saturday.
Evan explained that the Constitutional Court ruling emphasises the obligation of mobile operators to provide substantive protection for their customers’ remaining internet access quotas.
According to the court ruling, telecommunications network and/or service providers are required to provide service options that guarantee the remaining internet quota purchased by users remains active and usable.
Telecommunications network and/or service providers must also provide channels to make it easier for telecommunications users to monitor quota usage, including the remaining internet quota that has been purchased.
However, there are no restrictions regarding the type of protection mechanism for remaining internet access quotas that mobile operators may implement.
“It is explicitly clear in the Constitutional Court decision that, in terms of substantive protection regarding quotas, no costs whatsoever may be charged, regardless of the reason or requirements,” he said.
“If prices increase as a result, we will evaluate how operators implement the tariff formulations already established by the government,” he added.
At the end of August 2024, the Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, issued a circular to mobile operators regarding compliance with the Constitutional Court ruling concerning the protection of internet access quotas.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital has set a deadline of 28 September 2024 for mobile operators to submit compliance reports regarding the provisions for internet access quota protection.
According to the ministry’s evaluation as of 28 September 2024, three mobile operators operating in Indonesia have offered rollover internet service package options.
XL Axiata, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (IOH), and Telkomsel still provide non-rollover internet service package options, which now include notifications regarding the service’s validity period.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital considers that providing notifications alone is insufficient to protect the internet quota that is the right of the consumer.
Therefore, the ministry has requested that the three mobile operators immediately present more substantive solutions so that consumers can utilise their internet quotas in accordance with the costs they have incurred.