Subscription surcharge: in the EAEU, the abolition of roaming has been postponed for three years

It is planned to cancel roaming on the territory of the EAEU three years later than planned — by January 1, 2028, the Eurasian Economic Commission told Izvestia. The decision was supposed to come into force in 2025, but the issue required additional work. In particular, it is necessary to minimize the losses of telecom operators. The abolition of roaming in the association area is a complex and lengthy process, experts emphasize. For example, the European Union has been working on a similar project for 10 years. What other problems remain and how the member states of the union strengthen cooperation — in the material of Izvestia.

When will roaming be abolished in the EAEU

The abolition of roaming in the territory of the EAEU has been postponed for almost three years. The Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) now expects to do this by January 1, 2028.

— On July 8, 2025, at a meeting of the Council of the commission, a new deadline for the implementation of the plan for the introduction of fair roaming tariffs was approved — this is the fourth quarter of 2027. During this period, we expect to make all the necessary decisions and "cancel roaming" from January 1, 2028," Sergei Maksimov, director of the Antimonopoly Regulation Department, told Izvestia.

Photo: Global Look Press/Bulkin Sergey/news.ru

Previously, fair tariffs should have been introduced by April 2025. It implies the provision of cellular roaming services at tariffs close to home rates. However, a number of unresolved issues remain.

"Due to the need for additional study of the issue of leveling the financial losses of mobile operators, as well as to prevent fraudulent traffic and configure billing systems, the parties decided to extend the specified period," Maximov explained.

For the access zone: the FAS drew attention to the cost of roaming during the holidays

What else needs to be improved in the cellular market

First, you need to additionally analyze the rates on the global market, roaming rates and develop the best tariff option that takes into account the interests of both subscribers and operators. The EEC also plans to assess the financial impact of the new tariffs on their services in the countries of the association. Only after that, the initiatives will be discussed with all EAEU participants.

Currently, for Russians who use, for example, MTS services, a call in Kazakhstan and Armenia costs about 20 rubles per minute, in Kyrgyzstan — about 30 rubles.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Vitaly Timkiv

The introduction of fair tariffs is supported by all the member states of the Union, this is an important issue for both the parties and the EEC, Sergey Maksimov emphasized. However, despite the consensus, it is very difficult to implement this in practice, especially when it comes to the whole unification of countries — this is really a very long process, political analyst Alexander Korolev tells Izvestia.

— There is competition between operators, and it is difficult for large players to agree on the rules of the game in this market. And it's not just about the operators. Each country of the association has different antimonopoly laws, antimonopoly services, they are not very synchronized with each other," the expert says.

In this context, the example of Russia and Belarus is indicative. In March 2025, two EAEU member states introduced fair tariffs for cellular communications. Nevertheless, roaming between the countries of the Union State has not been fully abolished, the expert recalls. Although many tariff plans provide free incoming calls.

Photo: Global Look Press/Helena Dolderer/dpa

The cancellation of roaming was preceded by long and painstaking work, even in such an established integration association as the European Union. The relevant decision was made only in 2017, and the work was carried out for 10 years. For a long time, neither the member countries nor the mobile operators could agree among themselves. For non—EU countries that have joined the Schengen area — Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway - the free roaming feature will be introduced later.

How is cooperation developing in the EAEU format

The abolition of roaming charges in the EAEU countries will have a positive impact on several areas of cooperation within the union. This will increase the tourist flow, as well as simplify communication between businesses, notes Alexander Korolev.

"The abolition of roaming charges will be able to give a humanitarian component to Eurasian integration and will be a really important achievement," he said.

Photo: RIA Novosti/Vitaly Belousov

The introduction of fair tariffs for communications is, in general, a logical continuation of cooperation within the EAEU. Other projects are being implemented in the Union to deepen integration, mainly in the trade and economic sphere. For example, the association is now expanding the mandatory labeling of goods. This will allow consumers to be sure of their authenticity. It was also reported about plans to create a unified system for determining the origin of products.

The essence of economic integration in the EAEU is, of course, trade preferences for its members. The removal of customs barriers and other restrictions allows manufacturers to increase production while reducing its cost, customs duties and fees are not applied during import and export between the participating States, and the free movement of labor is ensured. By the way, there is now a significant increase in labor migration in the association, the Minister of Economy and Financial Policy of the EEC, Bakhyt Sultanov, said in May 2025.

Recalculation is over: Russia and Belarus finalize preparations for roaming cancellation

Operators are looking for optimal ways to reduce prices

As the EAEU develops, there is a growing interest in cooperation with the countries of the union from the outside. This is mainly reflected in free trade area agreements. For example, at the end of June, the union concluded an agreement on a free trade area — a temporary one with Mongolia and an indefinite one with the UAE. These agreements will save Russian businesses about 20 billion rubles, said Maxim Reshetnikov, head of the Ministry of Economic Development.

In May, the free trade agreement between the EEA countries and Iran came into force. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk stressed that the agreement would contribute to an increase in the utilization of the international North–South transport corridor.

Photo: TASS/Donat Sorokin

Indonesia, Egypt, Tunisia and India are showing great interest in the free trade agreement with the EAEU. Jakarta is the closest to it. It is already "on its way out," and Moscow is counting on an early signing, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in June.

Over the 10 years of its existence, the EAEU has united almost 186 million consumers and has become one of the largest economic unions. The combined GDP of the countries of the association has grown from $1.6 trillion to $2.6 trillion, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

— Trade turnover with third countries has increased by 38% and amounts to $800 billion. This is quite a comparable trade turnover between the world's leading economic powers, it is a solid trade turnover," the Russian leader said during the recent Eurasian Economic Forum in Minsk.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko even announced the need to create the EAEU 2.0. The current strategy of the Eurasian Economic Union is designed until 2025. Further, in his opinion, the union should move to a new stage of development. He also noted the need to create a common Eurasian brand.