Expiry of unused mobile data is unfair to consumers

Issue raised in Rajya Sabha by AAP MP Raghav Chadha

New Delhi — The practice followed under daily mobile recharge plans; where unused internet data expires at midnight; is unfair to consumers, said Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha while raising the issue in Parliament.

He questioned how data paid for by customers can simply lapse if not fully used. According to him, this is not merely a technical limitation but a deliberate policy adopted by telecom companies, resulting in unnecessary losses for consumers.

Internet data is a basic necessity in building ‘Digital India’

Raghav Chadha further stated that most telecom operators currently offer fixed daily data limits such as 1.5 GB, 2 GB, or 3 GB, which reset every 24 hours. However, if users consume less than the allotted amount, the remaining data is completely lost.

For example, if a customer receives 2 GB of daily data but uses only 1.5 GB, the remaining 0.5 GB cannot be carried forward to the next day. No provision exists either for refunds or for utilizing the unused data later.

He emphasized that internet access has become a fundamental requirement in the process of building a Digital India. In such circumstances, allowing paid data to simply “disappear” is unjustified, he said.

Key demands made by Raghav Chadha

a. Unused data should be carried forward and added to the next day’s data limit.

b. If a customer consistently uses less data, appropriate discounts should be provided in future recharge plans. Consumers should not repeatedly pay for services they do not use.

c. Unused data should be treated as a digital asset, allowing users to transfer it to family members or friends; similar to the transfer of money.

Editorial Perspective

This issue should not even need to be raised in Parliament; since every minister and public representative uses mobile data themselves, they should proactively enact laws to ensure justice for citizens.