Stop data bundle expiry, Parly demands

PARLIAMENT yesterday unanimously voted in favour of a motion to urge Government to prohibit internet service providers from prescribing expiry dates on internet bundles bought by their customers.

The motion was moved by Nalikwanda Member of Parliament Geoffrey Lungwangwa.

Professor Lungwangwa said there was too much exploitation of customers by internet service providers in the country.

He said there was need for Government to put in place measures aimed at providing effective protection of customers.

“Data should not expire. To protect consumers from unnecessary exploitation by service providers, Government should come up with certain measures,” Prof Lunguangwa said.

Seconding the motion, Kasama Member of Parliament Kelvin Sampa said data expiry practice by internet service providers was unacceptable.

Mr Sampa said consumers were being robbed of their money.

He said the providers got the money paid upfront, yet its full value was not enjoyed by the subscribers at a point when data had expired.

“Internet data bundles, like money, are a store of value which must not expire. Therefore a subscriber must be made to buy data which must be valid until such a time when the SIM card itself is not of value,” he said.

Mr Sampa said it was sad that internet service providers were applying pricing models that left customers at a loss.

He said the internet data bundles pricing mechanism that was applied by the providers characterised a monopolised market because customers were made to buy and use their data bundles within a specified period or else lose it.

Minister of Transport and Communication Mutotwe Kafwaya said Government had been paying attention to the issue and supported the motion.

Mr Kafyaya said Government had heard the concerns regarding expiry dates on data bundles.