Reform Index 128. New opportunities for mobile communication and automatization of workflow at customs

Reform Index equals +0.5 points for the period from 3 to 16 February 2020, with possible values ranging from -5.0 to +5.0. In the previous round, the index was +0.6 points.

Main events of the round

The ban on using 4G in the 800-900 MHz band has been lifted allowing the operators to offer high-speed mobile Internet services almost on the entire territory of Ukraine, +1.5 points

Order No. 41 of 05.02.2020  lifted the ban on the use of 4G in the 800-900 MHz bands. Building networks in these frequency bands makes it possible to install fewer base stations to cover the same territory.

This allows mobile operators to build 4G networks offering high-speed mobile Internet services almost everywhere in Ukraine, including small villages and highways.

The Order also discontinues the use of CDMA technology. Already outdated, this standard is not used elsewhere. Consequently, the bandwidth used for CDMA will gradually decrease with 4G being introduced at these frequencies. It will be a gradual process so that existing CDMA (Intertelecom) clients are not left disconnected.

The law on automated customs clearance of goods, +1.3 points

Law No. 440-IX of 14 January 2020 introduces electronic document workflow at customs. Businesses will be able to fill in documents related to the import and export of goods electronically.

There are now legislative opportunities to publish detailed statistics on export and import operations.

Law on introducing a system of admission of court decisions to cassation, +0.8 points

The Supreme Court sometimes comes to mutually exclusive legal conclusions which creates problems of further application of such practices.

Adopting Law 460-IX of 15 January 2020, MPs seek to resolve this problem by introducing a stricter system of admission of cases to be appealed to the court of cassation.