Observer: Constitutional Court ruling on internet quota guarantees consumer rights

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Telecommunications observer Heru Sutability assesses that the Constitutional Court (MK) ruling regarding remaining internet quotas provides significant benefits to consumers by ensuring that paid-for quotas do not simply vanish once a package’s validity period expires.

“In my view, this policy is very positive for consumers because it provides certainty that the quota already paid for does not just disappear,” Heru told ANTARA on Friday.

Heru explained that the Constitutional Court ruling ensures that unused remaining quotas continue to receive protection. According to him, the protection of unused internet quotas could take the form of rollover features, extensions of the active period, transfer of benefits, compensation, fund management, or other forms.

The Executive Director of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Institute concluded that the essence of this regulation is to guarantee that consumers receive fair benefits from the services they have already paid for.

In addition to the protection of purchased internet quotas, the Circular Letter from the Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs also guarantees consumer rights in choosing the mechanism for accumulating unused internet quotas.

Previously, consumers tended to follow the product terms set by operators. Now, consumers have a clearer choice of protection mechanisms for remaining quotas that can be adjusted to their needs.

“Operators must not unilaterally determine what is best for customers. Therefore, this represents an important shift, moving from a state where consumers followed the operator’s product rules to a state where consumers have clearer choices and protections,” he said.