Mobile Providers Collectively Reject the Concept of "Expired Quota"
JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The term “expired quota” was simultaneously rejected by operators providing mobile services during a hearing at the Constitutional Court (MK). What are their arguments?
Several mobile operators stated that the term is a misunderstanding of the time- and volume-based data service scheme.
This opinion was expressed by the providers during the MK hearing regarding the material examination of the telecommunications sector in the Job Creation Law, in case numbers 33/PUU-XXIV/2026 and 273/PUU-XXIII/2025, on Friday (17/4/2026).
Vice President of Simpati Product Marketing at Telkomsel, Adhi Putranto, explained that the internet service provided to customers is the right of access to network capacity for a certain period, not ownership of goods.
“What is given to customers is the right of access to network capacity for a certain volume and period. Therefore, the term ‘expired quota’ is not appropriate,” Adhi said before the MK panel of judges on Thursday (16/4/2026).
They also considered the term “expired quota” to be misleading because what ends is the service validity period according to the agreement.
“Technically, the remaining volume from the right of access to telecommunications networks that is not used by the customer also cannot be stored, transferred, or accumulated, so it cannot be used or resold by mobile operators,” he explained.
In agreement, Vice President Head of Prepaid Product and Pricing Strategy at Indosat, Nicholas Yulius Munandar, emphasised that mobile internet service is a network access service, not a good that can be owned permanently.
“Mobile internet service is a service providing access to telecommunications networks, not a transaction of buying and selling goods that gives rise to permanent ownership rights,” said Nicholas.
He added that internet packages are a contractual relationship between the operator and the customer that includes price, volume, and validity period as a single service unit.
“The term known as ‘expired quota’ is, in our view, not appropriate because what ends is the validity period of the access right to the service. According to the parameters agreed from the start, it is not the loss of the customer’s owned object,” he clarified.
“What is sold is the service, not goods,” he stated during the hearing.
XL explained that internet quota is part of a billing system that provides the right to use services within a certain time limit, so it cannot be categorised as an object under civil law.