By 1Q25, Russia plans to eliminate international cellular roaming charges with Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Armenia, all members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). This initiative was outlined in a document issued by the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) to prominent cellular service providers within the union and the Russian Ministry of Economic Development in March 2023.
The EEC's document requested specific information regarding fair tariffs for cellular services under international roaming conditions. Providers were instructed to submit data by April 14, including user numbers, service volumes, associated costs from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022, and revenue from these services.
By the end of 2024, telecom companies must develop "rules for the use of fair tariffs" for communication services within the EAEU member states. By early 2025, these providers are required to reduce international interconnect rates and implement suitable tariffs for EAEU users.
An MTS representative mentioned that the plan includes several implementation stages, though the outcome will depend on the actions of all parties involved. The representative indicated that there might be a decrease in revenue for telecom providers due to these changes. Additionally, it was noted that following an increase in demand for international communication in September 2022, service providers had reduced roaming prices in several destinations popular among Russians, including Turkey, Kazakhstan, and Armenia.
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