New Contributor

Why is Belarus included in the inclusive roaming package but not Ukraine?

Forum|Forum|4 months ago
May 15, 2026
3 replies
35 views

Belarus is currently involved in the invasion of Ukraine, yet it is included in the free roaming?

It doesn’t make sense. People can’t freely roam to Belarus from the UK, but their mobiles can? As far as I am aware, Belarus was not included in this free roaming before the invasion but has been added after.

When I travel to Ukraine and have to hide in basements with my wife while drones are sent from Belarus (using mobile roaming!! see: https://militarnyi.com/en/news/russia-equips-shahed-136-drones-with-mobile-communication-modules/)

There is a non zero chance those drones have ID mobile SIM cards with some free roaming on them, sent directly to explode some kindergartens.

ID mobile have gone from offering free data “offering their support” to directly engaging in business with one of the attackers?
https://www.facebook.com/idmobileuk/posts/at-id-mobile-we-remain-committed-to-ensuring-our-customers-stay-connected-to-fri/3515234272036543/

How are ID mobile doing business with Belarusian telecoms companies that are directly or indirectly sanctioned by the UK government?

The only provider in Belarus is Beltelecom, meaning that ID mobile have a contract with that company.

That company is run by Aleksandr Viktorovich Bazanov, who is under financial sanction by the UK government.

M

Michael Z

iD Mobile Employee

Hi @hawthornflk

We haven't changed our free roaming destinations in several years and our network partner Three UK controls the roaming agreements because we're an MVNO and not an MNO.

We will escalate it and fed this back to the relevant teams.

Thank you

Michael Z

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H

hawthornflkAuthor

New Contributor

https://www.three.co.uk/support/roaming-and-calling-abroad/roaming-abroad/roaming-destinations

Belarus is considered “rest of the world” at Three UK. This means the ID mobile have specifically chosen to include Belarus in the free roaming, indicating that ID mobile had some say in the decision to include the country.

The idea that Three UK would situate Belarus in “rest of the world” but then include it in a contract to allow for roaming at an MVNO is inconsistent.

In addition, ID Mobile extended the agreement it had had prior to 2023 in January 2023. Less than a year after the war started, ID Mobile did not think it was worth removing Belarus from the list of band 2 countries, which Three UK did in September 2021, before the war started.

That’s over a year gap between Three UK dropping Belarus (shortly after the use of telecoms to suppress the protests in the country) and the renewal of the MVNO contract with Three :/

M

Marquerita T

iD Mobile Employee

Hi @hawthornflk.

Thank you for sharing your feedback and concerns regarding this. We understand the points you’ve raised and appreciate you taking the time to explain them in detail.

As advised previously, we have already escalated and fed this back to the relevant teams for further review. While roaming agreements are managed through our network partner, we do appreciate your comments regarding the inclusion of specific destinations and the timelines

you have highlighted.

Thanks,

Marquerita

The iD Mobile Team

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