The Electronic and Postal Communications Authority (AKEP) has approved a new regulation that brings more benefits and protections for mobile phone consumers, to take effect from 1 January 2027.
Under the new rules, the validity of SIM cards will be extended from 6 to 12 months, monetary credit will be retained for at least 180 days, and top-ups with lower values will be made available.
Consumers will also have the right to request a refund of unused credit when porting their number, while the mobile number will be kept for at least 12 months after deactivation.
Another change concerns contracts: automatic monthly fee increases, including those linked to inflation, will not be permitted if the amount was not clearly specified at the time the contract was signed.
In parallel, AKEP has authorized a 120-day trial of D2D satellite technology in cooperation with Starlink/SpaceX. This technology aims to enable phones to connect directly to satellites, expanding coverage in areas where traditional mobile signal is lacking.