December 17, 2025, 10:09 am | Read time: 3 minutes
Another piece of Europe is coming together, at least when it comes to travel. Starting in 2026, roaming charges between EU countries, Ukraine, and Moldova will officially be eliminated. However, a major network operator is already taking the lead and implementing the new rules early. TECHBOOK explains what this means for millions of people.
Those traveling within the EU can use their mobile plan in foreign countries as if they were at home. The regulation known as “Roam like at home” allows for calling and data usage in EU countries without additional costs. Beyond the 27 EU member states, there are exceptions for some countries that are also part of the roaming agreement, such as Liechtenstein, Norway, Finland, Iceland, the United Kingdom, and for Telekom, Switzerland. Starting in 2026, two more countries that are not part of the EU will join.
Vodafone Begins Free Roaming Early
As of January 1, 2026, the “Roam like at home” principle (German: “Roaming wie zu Hause”) will also apply to Ukraine and Moldova. This means users within these countries and the EU can make calls, send messages, and use mobile data without extra charges. Vodafone Germany has already implemented the new regulations on December 16–two weeks before the official start date.
This specifically means that Ukrainian customers with a contract from a local provider in Germany can now surf and call for free. Conversely, German Vodafone customers can use their smartphones in Ukraine without additional fees. It’s important to note that this only applies to Ukrainian network providers. Regions occupied by Russia, where Russian networks are active, do not benefit from the new regulation.
The Republic of Moldova is also part of the new roaming agreement. The country, located between Romania and Ukraine, is taking another step toward European integration. Deutsche Telekom and O2 will implement the new regulation on the legal deadline of January 1, 2026.
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EU Regulation Aims to Promote Integration
The decision to include Ukraine and Moldova in the EU roaming area was made by the Council of the European Union in July 2025. Roaming charges within the EU have been abolished since 2017. The regulation was originally set to expire in mid-2022 but was extended until 2032. Now, travelers and residents in Ukraine and Moldova also benefit from the regulation.
The agreement not only allows for more cost-effective use of existing mobile plans, but it also guarantees the same network quality and speed as in the home country. Emergency calls must also be accessible for free. For Moldova, the integration is part of the 2016 Association Agreement with the EU and promotes gradual economic integration into the EU internal market.
In Ukraine, a voluntary agreement with the EU and European network operators has been in place since 2022, allowing for lower roaming costs until the end of 2025. This will now be replaced by the new legal regulation.