Mobile Broadband Standards: Government Takes Control of Quality

New mechanisms for controlling the quality of mobile communications and the internet are being introduced in Ukraine. The Verkhovna Rada adopted Draft Law No. 12094, “On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine Regarding the Regulation of Specific Issues in the Field of Electronic Communications.” Following this, the President signed Law No. 4670-IX, which establishes mandatory mobile internet speed standards.

These decisions significantly strengthen user rights protection and create a modern system for monitoring communication quality in Ukraine. One of the key innovations is the implementation of a public quality monitoring mechanism—the crowdsourced measurement of communication parameters directly from users’ smartphones.

 

Every subscriber will be able to test mobile internet quality on their own device, and the results will be automatically transmitted to the NKEK (National Commission for the State Regulation of Electronic Communications). This will provide the regulator with real data from across the entire country, rather than just selective measurements.

 

The main changes:

• Speed is an official quality criterion. The state now sets minimum speed standards, and operators are responsible for their compliance.
• Strengthening coverage in communities and villages. The lifting of the inspection moratorium and clear speed requirements will incentivise operators to invest in regions where connectivity is still weak or absent.
• National roaming will continue to operate even after the war ends. This strengthens the resilience of the telecom sector and ensures connectivity for Ukrainians during critical moments.
• Quality monitoring via smartphone (referencing the crowdsourcing mechanism).

 

Importantly, the moratorium on checking compliance with licensing conditions will be lifted, which will incentivise operators to invest more actively in network development.