Ukraine, EU extend affordable roaming agreement for another year

MOSCOW. July 11 (Interfax) - Ukrainian and European mobile and landline telecom providers have extended their agreement on affordable roaming services for Ukrainians abroad and Europeans in Ukraine for another year starting July 10, Ukrainian media reported, citing Ukrainian telecom regulator NCEC.

"The extension of the Joint Statement for a new period (12 months) was supported by seven Ukrainian and 22 European mobile and fixed telecom operators. However, the document remains open to all European operators, who can join it at any time while it is in effect," the NCEC said.

The agreement was initially signed in April 2022 and it has been extended several times since then.

The NCEC said it is continuing to work on a long-term solution that would see Ukraine join the European Union's Roam-Like-At-Home roaming area. It is developing regulations to put into practice provisions of the law to amend certain Ukrainian laws on the implementation of EU roaming legislation that went into effect on June 20, 2024.

The European Commission proposed in 2023 to include the agreement on the free telephone roaming area with Ukraine in the association agreement between the EU and Ukraine. A decision on bringing Ukraine into the EU roaming area has not been made yet.

In June, President Vladimir Zelensky signed amendments to Ukrainian legislation on the implementation of European legislation on roaming that parliament passed at the end of May. The changes will allow Ukrainians to use mobile services in EU member countries at home rates, without paying additional fees for roaming services, on a permanent basis. EU citizens, in turn, will have the same right when visiting Ukraine.