European Commission proposes to integrate Ukraine into EU roaming in 2026
The EU roaming space will allow Ukrainians to call, send SMS and use mobile internet from Ukrainian numbers in 27 EU countries without additional costs.
The EU roaming space will allow Ukrainians to call, send SMS and use mobile internet from Ukrainian numbers in 27 EU countries without additional costs.
The European Commission has published a press release proposing to integrate Ukraine into EU roaming next year.
"We want Ukrainian citizens to be able to stay in touch with their loved ones across the EU, as well as in their own country. That is why we are offering Ukraine to join our roaming family. We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine and its citizens," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The common roaming area will allow Ukrainian citizens staying in the EU and EU citizens visiting Ukraine to avoid paying any additional roaming charges. The use of all mobile services, including calls, SMS and data, will be charged at domestic rates. The agreement also ensures that consumers will have the right to the same quality and speed of mobile communications as at home, and that access to emergency services will be free of charge.
In addition, the current agreement between Ukrainian and European telecommunications operators will be extended until December 31, 2025. This ensures that Europeans and Ukrainians will be able to continue to enjoy the benefits of a common roaming space until Ukraine actually joins the EU roaming space.
The European Commission has sent the adopted proposal to the EU Council for approval. According to it, Ukraine will effectively join the EU Roaming Like Home area from January 1, 2026. Earlier, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed a law on gradual integration into the EU Digital Single Market, namely, Ukraine will obtain an internal market regime with the EU in terms of roaming services by joining the EU Roaming Like Home single roaming area.
Recall that under the new law , the National Commission for Electronic Communications will receive more powers as a regulatory authority in the field of electronic communications. The Commission will be able to oblige operators to provide access to their networks if this will contribute to maintaining communications and ensuring effective interaction between different service providers.
In April 2022, European and Ukrainian operators agreed on voluntary measures that allowed more than 4 million refugees seeking asylum in the EU to have access to affordable communications. This initiative has been continued every year since then.
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Zelenskyy signed a law that brings Ukraine closer to unified roaming with the EU
Zelenskyy signed a law that brings Ukraine closer to unified roaming with the EU
The Council as a whole adopted the law regulating the issue of joining the single EU roaming area
The Council as a whole adopted the law regulating the issue of joining the single EU roaming area
Free roaming in the EU extended for Ukrainians for another year
Free roaming in the EU extended for Ukrainians for another year
