Since the war started, about two in three Yettel customers roaming in Ukraine have left the country. The number of Yettel customers roaming in Russia declined by 25% in this period. The total roaming traffic generated by customers still staying in the region, however, has exceeded the previous weeks´ level both for mobile internet and voice calls. The number of international calls and SMS messages initiated in Hungary to Ukrainian and Russian networks has been rising significantly.
Ukrainian data
The number of Yettel customers roaming in Ukraine has dropped to one third since the war started (24 February 2022). The most probable reason is the high number of people leaving the country in this period. Despite the declining number of users, the number of roaming calls was up by 40% over the pre-war period which reflects a more than fourfold increase in the number of calls per user. The number of voice minutes per day on average rose threefold which reflects a significant increase in the length of calls made by customers still using roaming services in Ukraine. The number of roaming SMS messages declined in the network which indicates that people prefer making calls to texting in this uneasy situation. Roaming data traffic roughly increased by 50% in Ukraine.
Based on the number of international voice calls, that is, calls initiated from Hungary to Ukrainian phone numbers, Yettel customers seem to have initiated nine times as many calls last week as during previous weeks in February. The length of calls increased significantly, eightfold on average, compared to earlier in February, while the number of SMS messages sent from Hungary to Ukrainian phone numbers rose threefold over previous weeks.
Russia: higher voice and SMS roaming traffic
The number of Yettel customers using roaming services in Russia declined by 25% since the war started. The users still staying in the region generated 60% more call minutes on average than during previous weeks in February, while their number of received voice calls was about 50% higher than before.
The number of international calls made from Hungary to Russia was also on the rise. The number of call minutes was 60% higher, while the number of calls was over 50% more than before, and calls were also longer. The number of SMS messages sent from Hungary to Russia increased 2.5-fold over the pre-war period.
In response to the situation, Yettel Hungary foregoes the data, voice and SMS roaming charges of its consumers and business customers based in Ukraine from 24 February (until withdrawal). It will also forego the charges of international calls made by its consumers and business customers from Hungary to base-rate phone numbers in Ukraine (until withdrawal). Customers can request the cancellation of relevant call charges at 1220 or +36-20/200-0000 (from abroad), in Yettel shops or at the website www.yettel.hu/jovairas selecting the “Inquiries and information requests” section.