Ukraine is set to join the European Union’s “Roam Like at Home” (RLAH) zone from 1 January 2026, marking a historic milestone in its digital integration with Europe, despite not being a member of the European Economic Area (EEA). This follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signing Law No. 12150 on 2 June 2025, which implements EU telecommunications legislation and aligns Ukraine’s regulatory framework with EU standards. The European Commission has officially received Ukraine’s notification confirming that all legislative procedures required for joining the RLAH zone have been fulfilled. This will enable Ukrainians to use their mobile phones across all 27 EU member states, plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, without incurring roaming charges for calls, texts, or data.
Ukraine and Moldova are poised to become the first candidate countries to join the EU roaming zone, a development described as “historic” by EU officials. Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, temporary agreements have allowed millions of Ukrainians residing in the EU to communicate with family back home without additional roaming fees. This temporary measure, initially introduced due to the influx of Ukrainians into European countries was last renewed in July 2024 for another year, but will now be replaced by full integration into the RLAH framework.
Ukraine’s accession to the RLAH zone is part of a broader EU-Ukraine integration process, including trade liberalisation and regulatory approximation across multiple sectors. It signals Ukraine’s commitment to a modern, competitive telecommunications market, and deeper economic ties with the EU. For businesses and individuals alike, this will reduce costs, facilitate cross-border communication, and strengthen economic cooperation.
The UK’s position: falling behind on roaming agreements
In contrast, the United Kingdom has failed to secure a similar arrangement following Brexit. The UK government has not reached a deal with the EU to restore free roaming within the EU, resulting in the reintroduction of roaming charges by major UK mobile operators such as EE, Three UK, Vodafone UK, and Sky. These charges, often accompanied by daily fees, data caps, and roaming passes, have inconvenienced UK visitors who once benefited from the EU’s RLAH policy. The complexity and cost of managing roaming allowances have caused frustration and financial burden for many users.
However, some UK networks have retained free EU roaming in their basic packages. Providers including O2, GiffGaff, iD Mobile, SMARTY, Lebara, Tesco Mobile, and Lycamobile, continue to offer inclusive roaming allowances with varying data limits, providing a more seamless and cost-effective experience for their customers when travelling in Europe.
The Vodafone disparity
Here is one example where the situation is particularly unfair for Vodafone UK customers. Vodafone Group operates extensive networks across Europe, including in Germany, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and several other EU countries, where it provides “Roam Like at Home” benefits to its customers. Yet Vodafone UK customers are excluded from these benefits and face roaming charges when travelling in the EU, despite being part of the same multinational group. Furthermore, as Ukraine moves towards joining the EU RLAH zone, Ukrainians will soon have access to free roaming, a benefit denied to Vodafone UK customers in many of the same European locations. This discrepancy is both unfair and discriminatory, highlighting the fragmented approach to consumer rights post-Brexit and the lack of regulatory action to ensure equal treatment for UK customers of pan-European providers.
Roaming in Ireland and the Common Travel Area
The only exception remains the Republic of Ireland, where roaming is still free due to the long-standing Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangement between the UK and the Republic of Ireland, while Northern Ireland is part of the UK and thus not considered free roaming territory. However, UK networks continue to offer inclusive roaming in the Republic of Ireland. It should be noted, though, that the CTA’s Memorandum of Understanding does not specifically mention mobile roaming: this arrangement persists largely due to commercial decisions and informal cooperation rather than formal legal obligations.
The right to internet access and the impact of roaming charges
The right to internet access is increasingly recognised as a fundamental human right. The Council of Europe’s Resolution 1987 (2014) calls for universal, affordable, and non-discriminatory internet access as essential for exercising rights under the European Convention on Human Rights. The reintroduction of roaming charges by UK networks, coupled with the absence of a comprehensive EU-UK roaming agreement, undermines this right for both British and EU citizens. Technology should transcend borders, yet these fees disrupt individuals’ ability to access the internet freely while travelling, restricting connectivity and the exercise of fundamental rights.
This issue is especially acute in rural and remote areas across the EU and UK, where reliable public Wi-Fi remains scarce. In such regions, mobile data is often the only dependable means for navigation, emergency communication for contacting family back home,(although the emergency 112 number remains free), and accessing vital services such as public transport schedules or local health information. Without inclusive roaming, visitors risk digital exclusion and losing access to essential services while abroad, exacerbating inequalities in connectivity and travel experience.
Legal and political framework
The 2021 EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) includes Article 181, which encourages cooperation on transparent charges and reasonable international roaming rates, but does not mandate free roaming or regulate roaming charges. It allows both parties to promote competition and technological alternatives but stops short of reinstating the RLAH framework for the UK.
The UK maintains a separate roaming agreement with the EFTA states – Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein – under its Free Trade Agreement with these countries. This agreement includes caps on roaming charges.
Furthermore, the recent ‘A renewed agenda for European Union – United Kingdom cooperation Common Understanding’ contains no provisions addressing mobile roaming, indicating that the issue remains unresolved in EU-UK relations.
A pragmatic proposal: temporary EFTA membership for the UK
This article follows up on previous suggestions advocating that the UK apply for temporary EFTA membership, to regain access to the EEA roaming arrangements swiftly. Such a move would allow the UK to rejoin the RLAH zone through EFTA’s existing roaming agreements, restoring free EU roaming for UK consumers without unduly prolonged negotiations.
The UK government’s failure to secure such a deal has been widely criticised. The Labour government has shown a lack of urgency and competence in resolving this issue, leaving UK travellers to bear the cost of roaming fees that their European neighbours – and soon Ukrainians – will not face.
Conclusion
Ukraine’s imminent accession to the EU’s Roam Like at Home zone, despite not being an EEA member, highlights the UK’s relative diplomatic and regulatory failure. While Ukrainians will soon enjoy seamless and cost-free roaming across the EU, UK mobile users continue to face roaming charges – except in Ireland due to the Common Travel Area.
