Latvia to require mobile operators to enable national roaming during crisis situations from 2027

Latvia's government approved a decision on Tuesday, September 22, requiring mobile network operators to provide so-called national roaming during crisis situations starting in July 2027. This would allow residents to use another operator's network in emergency circumstances if their own provider's service becomes unavailable.

Aim: uninterrupted communication during crises

The decision is intended to ensure that residents remain reachable and able to maintain communication during crisis situations, even if one operator's network becomes overloaded or damaged. The national roaming mechanism would allow switching to another available network when needed, reducing the risk that people are left without communication at a critical moment.

Legal amendments still required

For the new requirement to actually take effect, the amendments to the Electronic Communications Law approved by the government must still be reviewed and passed by the Saeima. Only after parliamentary approval will mobile operators have a legal obligation to implement, by July 2027, the technical solution enabling roaming between different operators' networks during crisis conditions.