Ukraine has come as close as possible to the EU roaming unified legislation
15 April 2025 17:56
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has adopted in the second reading the draft law “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on the Implementation of the European Union’s Legislation on Electronic Communications” (No. 12150), which brings the Ukrainian telecommunications market closer to European standards and expands the powers of the national telecom regulator. This is reported on the website of the Verkhovna Rada, "Komersant Ukrainian" informs.
This is the final legislative stage on the way to a single roaming area with the EU, and after all formal procedures, Ukrainians will be able to use mobile communications in the EU without additional costs.
What innovations does the law contain?
The adopted document stipulates that European operators will not need to undergo the general authorization procedure in Ukraine if they do not provide electronic communications services. This will allow them to provide their services through Ukrainian networks faster and easier.
The draft law also defines the powers of the National Commission for the State Regulation of Electronic Communications, Radio Frequency Spectrum and Postal Services (NCCS) necessary to improve the operation of the Roam Like at Home service in Ukraine:
– monitoring the compatibility and interconnection of networks of Ukrainian and European operators;
– ensuring access, interconnection and compatibility of services provided by Ukrainian and European operators;
– helping Ukrainians to interact with European operators in case of a communication service failure.
Operators will be able to ensure the compatibility of their networks, even if they use different equipment or technologies. This will allow subscribers to use roaming seamlessly.
How soon will Ukraine join the EU roaming single market?
After the law is signed by the President of Ukraine, the documents will be submitted to the European Commission for evaluation. In case of a positive conclusion, official negotiations will begin on obtaining the EU internal market regime for roaming, which will legally formalize Ukraine’s participation in the Roam Like at Home (RLAH) policy.
After the end of martial law, Ukrainians will be able to use mobile communications in 27 EU countries at the rates of their operator – without additional roaming charges.
What does the “Roaming like at home” mode provide for?
It is available in all 27 EU countries. The EU countries started working on the implementation of the Roaming at Home zone in 2007 and launched it in 2017.
“Roaming at Home covers calls, SMS, and Internet services (except for unlimited data). Calls to emergency services and notifications to subscribers about exceeding the limits of the tariff package consumption are free of charge.
Joining the EU roaming agreement is a complex process that Ukraine, as an EU candidate, is going through at an accelerated pace due to Russia’s full-scale invasion.
In 2024, Ukraine ensured the implementation of EU roaming regulations into national legislation: in particular, last May, the Law on Roaming was adopted, which became the basis for the future implementation of the EU Roam-Like-At-Home (RLAH) policy in Ukraine.
on November 7, 2024, an official notification was submitted to the European Commission and it initiated a comprehensive assessment of Ukraine’s legislation with a view to further obtaining internal market treatment with the EU for roaming.
It is worth recalling that a special Joint Statement between Ukrainian and European operators has been in force since April 2022. It provides for preferential tariffs for Ukrainian citizens and is valid until July 2025.
After Ukraine joins Roaming Like Home, Ukrainians in the EU and EU citizens in Ukraine will be able to use home tariffs on a regular basis, not on a preferential basis.
