EU industry chief Breton in push to help Ukraine stay connected
By Foo Yun Chee
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Ukraine’s nationwide regulatory authority NCEC is ready to enroll to the European physique of telecoms regulators this month following a push by EU trade chief Thierry Breton, a transfer that might assist thousands and thousands of Ukrainian refugees to remain linked with low roaming tariffs.
In April, Deutsche Telekom and a bunch of different high European telecom corporations agreed to chop wholesale roaming costs levied on Ukrainian friends for 3 months to assist Ukrainian refugees keep in contact with households again residence.
NCEC has put in a request to the European Fee to affix the Physique of European Regulators for Digital Communications (BEREC) which is made up of the 27 nationwide telecoms regulators throughout the European Union.
“I’ve proposed to the Faculty a Fee choice authorising the participation of the Ukrainian nationwide regulatory authority, with out voting rights, within the board of regulators of BEREC and the administration board of the BEREC workplace,” Breton wrote in a letter dated June 3 to Ukraine’s Vice Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov seen by Reuters.
“I’m assured the choice will probably be adopted in time for the following plenary assembly of BEREC on 9-10 June,” he mentioned.
Becoming a member of BEREC would make it simpler for the Ukrainian regulator to coordinate and negotiate with its friends and telecoms operators and maintain its individuals linked particularly in areas the place communications infrastructure has been destroyed.
It can additionally assist it determine internet addresses of corporations subjected to sanctions imposed by the EU and make sure that they adjust to the bans.
(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Enhancing by Andrea Ricci)
