Roam-Like-AtHome law takes effect, to be implemented upon EU's decision - Kiev
MOSCOW. June 20 (Interfax) - The Roam-Like-AtHome (RLAH) law has taken effect but won't be implemented until the EU grants the internal roaming market status to Ukraine, Ukrainian media said, citing the National Commission for the Regulation of State Electronic Communications, Radio Frequency Spectrum and Postal Services (NCEC).
"The law shall enter into force on the date set by Ukraine and the EU in the decision of the EU-Ukraine Association Committee in Trade Configuration to grant the internal roaming market status. The date has yet to be named," NCEC said on a social network.
The next step of the team working on Ukraine's accession to RLAH will be the European Commission's assessment of Ukrainian legislation's compliance with EU laws and the drafting of the respective decision of the EU-Ukraine Association Committee, it said.
Additionally, NCEC will draft and approve bylaws as a necessary element of Ukraine's commitment to fully implement EU roaming laws. The RLAH Fair Use Policy will be one of those documents.
The law amending certain Ukrainian legislation to implement European roaming regulations vests NCEC with the exclusive right to regulate roaming services and to establish detailed rules for Roam-Like-AtHome in Ukraine. It also defines key principles of the provision and use of Roam-Like-AtHome services in the Ukraine-EU common roaming zone.
Alexander Komarov, president of Ukraine's largest mobile service operator Kyivstar, told Ukrainian media that the company was ready for RLAH and was making technical preparations for joining the common roaming zone. He said, however, that the Ukrainian telecom sector might lose about $100 million revenue per year because of the changed rates of incoming international calls.
Ukrtelecom General Director Yury Kurmaz also said that the common roaming zone would cut revenue, in particular, in transit and termination of international traffic.
As known, the Ukrainian parliament passed the bill amending certain Ukrainian legislation to implement EU roaming laws in the second reading on May 22, 2024. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky signed the bill into law on June 7, and it was published on June 9.
