Ukraine will soon have free roaming with the European Union. Thus, Ukrainians abroad will be able to make calls and use the Internet at the same rates as at home.
The relevant draft law was registered in the Verkhovna Rada.
“This will create a common roaming area between Ukraine and the EU, which will facilitate the free movement of Ukrainian and EU citizens within the common roaming area and enjoy the benefits of Roaming Like Home without paying additional roaming fees,” the explanatory note to the document says.
Thus, it is expected that European roaming regulations will come into effect in Ukraine. As our country is on its way to joining the EU, the emergence of European rules is a prerequisite for the single roaming zone between Ukraine and the European Union to work. Ukrainian legislation in this area should be harmonized with the European one by April 24, 2024.
“Ukrainians will enjoy domestic mobile tariffs on the territory of EU member states and will not have to pay additional roaming charges. EU citizens will have the same rights when visiting Ukraine. This will facilitate the free movement of Ukrainian and EU citizens within the common roaming area,” the text says.
What is the current situation with mobile communication for Ukrainians in Europe?
Ukrainian citizens staying in the EU countries can use free roaming on a temporary basis. Mobile operators foresaw this possibility back in 2022, when the full-scale Russian invasion began and Ukrainians were leaving for Europe en masse.
In the summer of 2023, free roaming for our compatriots was extended. This was agreed upon by 22 mobile operators in the European Union and seven Ukrainian companies.
To use roaming, Ukrainians simply need to top up their mobile accounts on time, and the service is activated automatically.
Who among Ukrainians is at risk of being left without communication due to blackout
Most mobile operators were not prepared for a repeat of last year’s blackouts. This became known after the National Commission for the State Regulation of Electronic Communications conducted an unscheduled inspection of the companies in October.
“In the course of supervisory measures, violations were found in all three mobile operators,” the statement said.
The agency added that when they conducted these inspections, they expected to see minimal errors. But it turned out that operators were not ready for blackouts at all.
