From 2026, Ukrainians will communicate in the EU as if at home: what will change in roaming.

According to ТСН: Starting January 1, 2026, Ukrainians will no longer need to look for local SIM cards or overpay for communication while traveling in Europe. Ukraine joins the European roaming zone 'Roam like at home'. This means that calls, SMS, and mobile internet in 27 EU countries will be available under the usual home tariff conditions.

How it will work in practice

The principle is simple: when you are in Poland, Germany, or France, your phone will 'think' that you are still in Ukraine.

• Calls and SMS: will be charged the same way as at home. No additional charges for connections or incoming calls.

• Automatic connection: no need to separately request the roaming service. It will be included in most tariff plans by default.

'There is no difference whether a person is in Ukraine or Poland — the conditions are the same. You will be able to communicate with a Ukrainian SIM card there as if at home,'

What will happen with mobile internet

The only nuance concerns access to the network. If you have unlimited internet in Ukraine, operators in the EU may implement a 'fair use policy'. This means that the amount of gigabytes in roaming may be limited, but the data volume will be sufficient for comfortable use of messengers, maps, and social networks.

Conditions for Ukrainians fleeing the war

For thousands of citizens who are in Europe due to the war, special conditions apply. A joint statement between operators continues the preferential regime until March 2027.

'The Ukrainian telecommunications regulator has taken care of those who are forced to stay in the EU. They can use Ukrainian numbers without restrictions,'

Currently, over a million Ukrainian SIM cards are actively used in the EU, as they offer more favorable rates and quality service compared to European counterparts.

Will prices for communication rise in Ukraine

One of the main concerns of subscribers is that for 'European comfort', those who do not leave the country will have to pay out of their own pockets. The regulator and mobile operators assure that there is no direct connection between the abolition of roaming and price increases.

Companies Vodafone and Kyivstar have already announced updates to their terms. The operators are confident in the following:

• There will be no tariff increases due to roaming.

• Package minutes and gigabytes will be common for use in Ukraine and the EU.

At the same time, experts do not rule out the emergence of special 'social tariffs' without roaming for those who do not plan to travel abroad, to allow savings.

It should be noted that due to power outages in many regions of Ukraine, there may be problems with mobile communications and internet access. In such situations, a router can be connected to a power bank, after verifying with the provider whether the network has a backup power supply.

With proper connection and energy-saving settings, Wi-Fi equipment can operate without electricity for several hours to more than half a day, including with fiber optic connections, provided separate power for the optical terminal.

Thus, the introduction of European roaming will make communication more convenient and accessible for Ukrainians who travel frequently. This is an important step towards integrating Ukraine into the European information space. Special conditions for those who have been forced to leave the country also reflect the state's attention to the needs of its citizens in difficult times.