Ready to roam: EU4Digital campaign looks ahead to Eastern Partnership roaming agreement

As the prospect of cheaper roaming across the EU comes closer, EU4Digital has carried out a campaign, with the support of Action Public Sector and Action Digital, highlighting what the agreement will mean for citizens and business, families and travellers, as well as the key role of independent regulatory authorities in ensuring consumers can enjoy the benefits of the agreement.

Roaming prices between the Eastern partner countries are forecast to fall by almost 90% in the next five years under a Regional Roaming Agreement supported by the EU4Digital Initiative, expected to be signed later this year and to come into force in 2022.

The planned agreement is built on the European Union’s own experience of roaming regulation, and its hugely successful ‘Roam like at home’ agreement – “delivering better connectivity, increased usage, and lower prices for all,” in the words of Katarina Mathernova, Deputy Director-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations at the European Commission. The agreement could also pave the way for an extended roaming space in the future between the Eastern partner countries and the European Union.

The campaign, which was promoted in local press and through social media, was built around a series of stories developed in cooperation with local media partners. 

You can read the stories here:

• New prospects for Azerbaijan: how a regional roaming agreement will be a game changer for families and business
• Georgia: cheap roaming – how a new agreement will bring prices down between the Eastern partner countries
• Turn on the Internet: Regional Roaming Agreement will significantly reduce the cost of roaming services for travelling Ukrainians
• Independent regulation: the key to unlock cheap and easy roaming

The campaign is also driven by a series of social media videos and infographics, and includes the support of influencers in the partner countries uploading selfie videos on their Instagram channels.

The campaign also promoted the work of the EU4Digital Telecoms Rules stream with a factsheet outlining activities in key areas, and a set of e-cards answering practical questions about the issue.