No More Expired Data: XLSmart Boss Reveals Options for Unused Quota Replacement

Surabaya, CNBC Indonesia - The Director and Chief Regulatory Officer of XLSmart, Merza Fachly, has explained the implications of the Constitutional Court (MK) ruling regarding expiring internet quotas, which has subsequently been implemented by the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi) through Circular Letter Number 4 of 2026.

“In short, the Constitutional Court first decided that none of the existing laws are unconstitutional. This means everything is in accordance with the constitution, so there is no need for changes to regulations at the legislative level or even ministerial level,” Merza stated during a Media Gathering in Surabaya, East Java, on Friday (5/9/2026).

According to him, because the ruling did not state that any rules were in conflict with the constitution, Komdigi did not change existing regulations. Komdigi merely issued a circular letter as a follow-up to the Constitutional Court’s decision.

“Therefore, in following up on this, Komdigi did not change any rules; they only issued what is known as a circular letter,” he said.

Merza explained that the Constitutional Court ruling also stated that internet or data services can utilise either rollover or non-rollover schemes. In this regard, operators are requested to protect consumer rights.

One form of such protection applies to non-rollover packages. When a package’s validity period ends and consumers still have remaining quota, operators must provide protection for that remaining data.

“How? Through several options that are also written in the Constitutional Court ruling and the circular letter,” Merza explained.

One such protection option is an extension of the active period. For example, if a consumer still has 20% of their quota remaining when the package expires, the operator can provide an additional active period of one week so that the consumer can still use the remaining quota.

In addition to extending the active period, operators can also accumulate the remaining quota. This remaining quota can be collected, either entirely or partially, to serve as an addition to the next package purchase.

“Or what else? It can also be collected. Either all of the remainder or part of the remainder becomes an addition for the next package purchase,” said Merza.

Another option could take the form of converting the remaining quota into reward points. Merza noted that there are approximately six or seven protection options that operators can implement.

“What else? It could even be in the form of replacement with reward points. If there is a remainder, I give points. There are many things there, roughly 6 or 7 options,” he explained.

In addition to these options, the Constitutional Court ruling and the Komdigi circular letter also allow for the possibility of other forms of consumer protection.

“The last part is even more open, both in the Constitutional Court ruling and the circular letter. Or other forms of protection. So, there are many options,” said Merza.

Regarding the implementation of these rules, Merza stated that almost all requested forms of protection are already available at XLSmart. The company now only needs to ensure that all mechanisms comply with the regulations and are easily understood by the public.

“XLSmart already has almost all of those. Now, it is just a matter of meeting the requirements. How to make all of this transparent and ensure the explanations are easily understood by the public,” he concluded.