Roaming traffic between Romania and the Republic of Moldova surged to a record one million gigabytes in 2024, driven by significantly lower fees introduced under a bilateral agreement signed in 2022. A joint report released by Romania’s National Communications Administration and Regulation Authority (ANCOM) and Moldova’s National Regulatory Agency for Electronic Communications and Information Technology (ANRCETI) highlights the growing impact of the deal, which aims to gradually eliminate barriers to cross-border mobile use ahead of Moldova’s expected integration into the EU’s “Roam Like at Home” zone by January 2026.

The report highlights the significant progress made in the three years of application of the 2022 Agreement on the reduction of roaming and international call fees between the two states, Agerpres reports.

“The application of the Agreement continues until the inclusion of the Republic of Moldova in the EU’s ‘roam like at home’ space, which is expected to happen on January 1, 2026,”

the local telecommunications market arbitrator said.

75% of the 2024 increase in bidirectional data roaming traffic was due to the intensification of data consumption, 14% was generated by the increase in the number of roaming users, and the rest was due to the extension of the roaming presence.

Cross-Border Mobile Habits Shift as Roaming Agreement Delivers Results

Last year, the average cost of a day of bilateral roaming stayed the same as in 2023, whilst daily internet traffic scored a significant increase of 42%. Thus, a day of data roaming in Moldova meant, on average, 175 MB of traffic for users from the Republic of Moldova roaming in Romania and 63 MB for users from Romania roaming in the Republic of Moldova.

Number-based mobile phone roaming traffic saw significant increases, especially among Republic of Moldova users roaming in Romania, who generated approximately 30% more minutes of calls compared to 2023. In the case of users from Romania roaming in the Republic of Moldova, voice traffic increased 6% for calls made and 8% for calls received.

The governments of Romania and the Republic of Moldova signed on February 11, 2022 the Agreement on the reduction of fees for international roaming services and international calls between the two states. The document is being implemented with the support of ANRCETI and ANCOM.

The agreement aims to create a framework for cooperation between the two states to sustainably reduce retail fees for international voice, SMS and data roaming services, respectively, for international calls between the two states.

Conclusion

The dramatic rise in bilateral roaming traffic between Romania and the Republic of Moldova—reaching one million gigabytes in 2024—is not just a regional success story; it reflects a broader trend in Eastern Europe where political alignment and market liberalization are accelerating digital integration. Moldova’s trajectory mirrors that of Western Balkan countries, where similar EU-supported agreements—such as the 2019 Regional Roaming Agreement (RRA)—led to the complete removal of roaming charges within the region by 2021, and a phased reduction of roaming charges with the EU thereafter. According to the European Commission, data consumption in the Western Balkans increased nearly fivefold within two years of that policy shift.

Moldova’s strategy, therefore, is not unique—but it is notably efficient. The stability of daily roaming costs amid a 42% increase in data use suggests a well-managed transition that benefits both consumers and operators. This aligns with GSMA Intelligence’s 2024 report, which notes that regional roaming deals anchored in regulatory cooperation and political trust tend to create stronger cross-border digital economies.

Furthermore, the anticipation of Moldova joining the EU’s “Roam Like at Home” framework by 2026 positions it as a digital bridge between the EU and the Eastern Partnership countries. If executed smoothly, this could serve as a model for Ukraine and Georgia, who are also looking to align their telecom regulations with EU standards.

In a time when cross-border digital mobility is a key enabler of trade, labor movement, and social connection, the Moldova–Romania agreement is more than just a bilateral telecom deal—it is a signal of growing regional cohesion, enabled by digital infrastructure and forward-looking policy.