European and Ukrainian telecommunications operators signed a new joint statement-memorandum declaring the six-month extension of agreements on affordable roaming for Ukrainians who ended up in various European countries due to the war.

 This was reported by the Ukrainian regulator - the National Commission, which carries out state regulation in the fields of electronic communications, radio frequency spectrum and the provision of postal services (NKEK).

 20 European mobile and fixed communication operators and seven Ukrainians joined the agreement (Kyivstar, Vodafone, lifecell, Ukrtelecom, Data Group, Vega Telecom, 3Mob). The agreement was reached with the support of the European Commission, NKEK and the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC).

 The new Joint Statement of Ukrainian and European telecommunications operators will be valid for the next six months and is a continuation of those agreements that were reached within the framework of the previous Joint Statement concluded on April 8, 2022, which was valid for the past nine months.

 The joint statement will allow continuing voluntary measures to provide Ukrainians in Europe with affordable or free international roaming services.

 A coordinated approach to setting tariffs for roaming services and international calls to Ukraine allows to minimize additional costs of European and Ukrainian mobile and fixed communication operators, while allowing to provide relevant services without additional surcharges for subscribers, as well as to ensure stable inter-operator settlements.

 The report notes that there is a direct correlation between the number of forced migrants from Ukraine in Europe and those who use roaming with Ukraine. Thus, at the beginning of 2022, the usual number of "roamers" of mobile operators of Ukraine was about 2 million subscribers per month. In March 2022, the number of such people reached a peak of 5 million subscribers. In June-December, the number of roaming subscribers ranged from 3.9 to 4.4 million subscribers per month.

 The implementation of the previous Joint Statement allowed Ukrainian operators to offer their subscribers affordable roaming services in 25 EU member states and also cover European countries that are not EU members.