EU extends for another year roaming for affordable calls to and from Ukraine
15.07.2024
On July 9, 2024, the Joint Statement on the Coordination of Efforts to Ensure Affordable Roaming for Ukrainians in the EU was extended for a year for the fifth time. The first such statement was signed in April 2022 to mutually reduce tariffs for affordable cross-border communication for Ukrainian citizens who fled to the EU due to the full-scale war of the Russian Federation.
The Commission, together with the NCEC, the Ukrainian national regulatory authority, facilitated the agreement between 22 European (Altice Portugal, BICS, Bouygues, Deutsche Telekom, Colt, Elisa, Illiad, KPN, Liberty Global, MasOrange, Melita, Orange, Play, Polkomtel, Proximus, Telefonica, Telenor, Three Group, TIM, Odido, United Group, Vodafone) and seven Ukrainian operators (3Mob, Data Group, Kyivstar, lifecell, Ukrtelecom, Vega Telekom, Vodafone Ukraine) on the extension of the Joint Statement.
The latest data provided by the Body of European regulators of electronic communications (BEREC) shows that the agreement has been efficient in allowing operators to provide affordable calls. Operators that are signatories of the Joint Statement generally benefit from mutually lower rates than those who have not signed, which in turns means that they can offer lower charges to their customers. In addition to telecommunications services, EEA operators provide smartphones, power banks, and laptops to refugees or support charity organisations.
Despite the decrease in incoming traffic, difficulties in maintaining the subscriber base, as well as the necessity to invest in network restoration on top of other negative consequences of Russia’s ongoing illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, UA operators continue to offer free or greatly reduced roaming services focused on customers’ needs.
More information is available on the European Commission’s website.
