“What’s Up With the Economy?” is a podcast by the Centre for Economic Strategy in cooperation with Hromadske Radio, supported by PrivatBank.
Every week, hosts Anhelina Zavadetska and Maksym Samoiliuk talk with experts, entrepreneurs, analysts, and government officials about what is happening with Ukraine’s economy.
While the podcast is held in Ukrainian, we decided to summarise each issue with the most important insights.
In the new episode, we talk about connectivity during blackouts with our expert guest Liliia Malion, Head of the National Commission for the State Regulation of Electronic Communications (NCCIR).
We discuss how Ukraine’s telecom sector is being tested by the war: who controls mobile operators’ tariffs, how prepared the networks are for blackouts, when the “dead zones” along highways will disappear, and what the creation of a single roaming area with the EU means for the country.
We also talk about how the regulator maintains a balance between market freedom and security, why SIM cards linked to passports are about protection, not control, and what changes users can expect in the near future.
What does the NCCIR actually do? Functions, influence, and the regulator’s unseen work
The NCCIR is often perceived as «the body that checks operators», but its scope of responsibility is much broader. The Commission regulates the frequency spectrum, issues licenses, monitors service quality, and also oversees postal services. It sets the framework rules for the market so that operators can compete fairly and consumers can enjoy quality service.
During wartime, its traditional tasks have expanded to coordination with energy providers and local authorities to ensure connectivity during blackouts. This means communication networks running even under shelling or during power outages.
As the national regulatory authority, we oversee three sectors.The first is electronic communications. This includes mobile networks, fixed voice services, fixed internet, and also access to infrastructure that it’s related to telecom. The second major area is the radio frequency spectrum. It’s thanks to the radio spectrum that we can introduce new technologies: 4G, 5G, and, in the future, 6G. We license this technology, meaning we auction off frequencies and set the conditions under which they can be used. And the third area is postal services. Here we monitor service quality, accessibility, and ensure that universal postal services are provided to the public.
Connectivity during blackouts: Is the country ready?
After the winter of 2022–2023, when widespread power outages caused mobile signals to disappear, operators drew serious conclusions. They invested heavily in generators, battery systems, and energy-efficient base stations. Today, many operators are switching to PON-technology, which can keep networks running for up to 72 hours without electricity.
The expert notes that the industry’s level of preparedness is now much higher. Yet, challenges remain, especially in smaller towns and rural areas.
Operators have been given clear requirements for preparedness: batteries, generators. And it’s important to note that it’s not only mobile operators who are preparing: fixed internet providers and other communication services are doing the same. Everyone is getting ready for potential blackouts… Since 2023, as a regulator, we’ve started inspecting operators’ readiness. We check generators, fuel reserves, batteries, mobile response teams, and, in general, whether there are people available to do the work. So now we are much better prepared. We see that operators are investing heavily to keep connectivity during blackouts. They are spending a lot of money on this.
Why does mobile signal disappear during travelling and when will it be fixed?
Many users notice that mobile coverage often drops out along highways and on trains. The main reasons are the insufficient number of base stations along roads and railways, as well as the complex procedure for obtaining frequency permits. Physically, the signal weakens due to large distances between towers, terrain features, forests, and other natural obstacles that interfere with coverage.
The NCCIR acknowledges the issue and is already working with operators to develop a roadmap for improving network quality. The state plans a set of systemic measures aimed at significantly improving coverage by 2030. This includes the construction of new base stations, modernization of existing sites, and simplification of frequency licensing procedures. These steps should ensure stable connectivity even in remote and hard-to-reach areas.
According to the strategy I mentioned, the state has set a goal that by 2030, 95% of highways will be covered with internet speed of at least 25 Mbps, and 70% of railway lines will be covered with speed of at least 2 Mbps.
From January 1, 2026, Ukraine joins the EU’s single roaming zone: What it means for Ukrainians
Starting January 1, 2026, Ukraine will officially become part of the European Union’s single roaming area. This makes our country the first non-EU state to receive such status — a precedent significant for both Ukraine and the EU.
For consumers, this means that Ukrainian mobile users traveling to any of the 27 EU member states will be able to use their mobile services just like at home: in Kyiv, Lviv, or Kharkiv. Roaming will no longer be a separate market with extra charges: it becomes a single geographical zone with uniform rules for all users. In practice, your monthly tariff will automatically cover calls, SMS, and mobile internet across the EU, eliminating the need to check prices or restrictions before traveling.
The “roam like at home” principle also protects operators from misuse: the service is designed for short-term travels, business trips, or vacations, not for permanent residence abroad. For European users, the rules are reciprocal; they can use their mobile services in Ukraine under the same conditions as in their home countries.
Thus, the inclusion of Ukraine’s to the single roaming zone ensures maximum comfort and savings for users, promotes harmonization with EU standards, and marks a major step toward integrating Ukraine’s telecom market into the EU’s unified digital space.
SIM cards linked to passports: Security or control?
Mandatory identification of SIM card users often sparks heated debate among consumers. Some fear it means government control over personal data, but as a representative of the NCEC explains, the real issue is not control, but security.
Under wartime conditions, such a procedure helps reduce fraud risks and ensures faster response to cyberattacks. A registered number makes a subscriber less attractive to scammers and gives them more tools for protection: for example, to use number portability or to resolve disputes with an operator, a user must be identified. In other words, SIM registration not only enhances user protection but also enables more effective tracking and investigation of crimes involving fake or misused mobile numbers.
Currently, the identification procedure is voluntary: each subscriber decides whether to register their number. However, those who choose to be identified receive an additional layer of protection and access to a wider range of modern services. For most users, the process is extremely simple: it can be completed via a mobile app or the operator’s online account.
“What’s Up With the Economy?” is a podcast by the Centre for Economic Strategy in cooperation with Hromadske Radio, supported by PrivatBank.
The podcast is available in Ukrainian on different platforms by the link.
