Lower tariffs for calls and roaming internet from January 1, 2026. Costs “like at home” in the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine

The Communications Regulatory Authority (ANCOM) informed on Wednesday that from January 1, 2026, users of mobile services will benefit from lower roaming rates, both by reducing the maximum value of the surcharge for roaming data services in the EEA, and by integrating the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine into the “Roaming at Home” tariff system.

What does “roaming like home” mean in the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine

From January 1, 2026, users from the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine traveling to the European Union, as well as users from the European Union located in the two states, will be able to make or receive calls, send messages and use internet and mobile data services without additional costs, under the same conditions as in the country of origin.

This is possible after the EU Council decided in July of this year to integrate the two countries into the “Roaming Like at Home” tariff system of the European Union (RLAH – Roam Like at Home).

This expansion is part of the gradual economic integration of the two states in the internal market of the European Union, based on the individual association agreements.

“Thus, users in Romania who had, in certain cases, tariffs even over 8,000 euros/GB, will pay, from January 1, 2026, a surcharge of a maximum of 1.33 euros/GB (1.10 euros without VAT) in addition to the national tariffs, after exceeding the limit of reasonable use,” the ANCOM press release states.

According to regulation E, users have the right to the same quality of mobile services as in their country of origin, as well as free access to calling emergency services.

Providers of electronic communications services in Romania have the obligation to inform their customers about the new conditions for using roaming services in the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine.

Careful! The “Roaming at home” tariff system for the Republic of Moldova and, respectively, for Ukraine is mandatory only in their direct relationship with European Union states, and not between the two states or in the relationship with the other countries in the European Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).

The European Economic Area (EEA) comprises the member states of the European Union (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland (including the Åland Islands), France (including French Guiana and the islands of Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Reunion and Saint-Martin), Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal (including the Azores and Madeira Islands), Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (including the Canary Islands), Sweden and Hungary, to which are added Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

How much is the surcharge for roaming data in the EEA

Also from January 1, 2026, the maximum value of the surcharge applicable in case of exceeding the limits of reasonable use of roaming data services in the EEA decreases.

Each roaming service provider may establish a reasonable use policy in relation to the consumption of the roaming service in the EEA in order to prevent abusive or abnormal use of this service, for example to prevent permanent roaming in the EEA. After exceeding the limits of reasonable use of the roaming service in the EEA, the provider may additionally charge the customer certain surcharges (the amounts of which are capped).

In the case of data services, the maximum value of the surcharge will be 1.10 euros/GB (without VAT) between January 1 and December 31, 2026, and starting from January 1, 2027, it will decrease to 1 euro/GB (without VAT).

• Currently the maximum value of the surcharge for data services is 1.3 euros/GB (without VAT).

In the case of tariff plans (prepaid cards, subscriptions, (extra) options) with (quasi) unlimited data, a limit of reasonable roaming data consumption in the EEA may apply in a billing period.

In these cases, the amount of data available in roaming is calculated according to the formula: 2 x the price for mobile services in a billing period (without VAT) / 1.10 euros (for the period January 1 – December 31, 2026). As a rule, the price of the services is the value of the monthly subscription and any extra options, actually paid after applying the promotional discounts.

To make it easier to estimate the amount of data that can be consumed when roaming in the EEA without a surcharge, ANCOM has developed a widget-type application, accessible here. The application provides relevant results for all users of tariff plans with access to roaming and will be updated on January 1, 2026 with the rate of 1.10 euros/GB.

Information obligations for suppliers

Providers of electronic communications services have obligations to inform users about:

• the volume of data available in EEA roaming within the concluded contract, including in the summary sheet and through the information message sent when connecting to a network in an EEA state, Moldova and Ukraine;
• consumption of the data volume included in the subscription or option that can be used without the application of the surcharge.

Detailed information on the “Roaming at Home” tariff system, including the reasonable usage policy, is available here.