Mobile Roaming: Is It Truly Free for Ukrainians in Europe?
After years of anticipation and discussions, Ukraine has officially set the stage for integrating into the European internal roaming system under the 'Roam Like At Home' concept. Starting from January 2026, Ukrainian mobile users will be able to make calls, send SMS messages, and utilize mobile internet within 27 EU countries under the same tariffs as at home, without extra charges. This milestone became possible after a prolonged legislative process, during which Ukraine aligned its laws with EU standards and regulations. According to the European Commission, by June 2025, Ukraine had completed the necessary legal steps, including enactment of the law governing the National Commission for the State Regulation of Electronic Communications, Radio Frequencies, and Postal Services (NKEK). These actions pave the way for the EU to formally approve Ukraine's accession to the 'Roam Like At Home' zone, expected to come into effect on January 1, 2026. However, it is important to emphasize responsible consumption under the principle of 'good faith use' to prevent abuse, especially for those who are permanently residing or overstaying in Europe. Under the new rules, Ukrainian travelers temporarily in Europe will enjoy tariff-free roaming, similar to their domestic rates, provided they do not exceed certain usage limits. Although calls and SMS are generally unlimited within the agreed-upon tariffs, data usage may be subject to restrictions based on the 'good faith' policy. It is planned that the free data volume in roaming will be approximately 3–5 GB, depending on the user's tariff, with extra charges not exceeding 1.30 euros per GB in 2025. This approach allows operators to set tariffs and offer additional packages aligned with European standards. It is crucial to understand that the 'Roam Like At Home' regulation does not guarantee unlimited data roaming for all users, especially those who might abuse the system by exceeding reasonable limits. As part of this policy, users with high-tier plans may receive higher minimal data allowances, depending on their contract costs. For example, a monthly contract costing 350 UAH can provide approximately 11.3 GB of data in roaming, calculated by dividing the contract amount by the maximum allowed wholesale rate of 1.30 euros plus VAT (totaling about 62 UAH). Overall, Ukrainian mobile providers will need to ensure transparent and predictable roaming costs, so users can plan their expenses and avoid surprises while traveling.