Editing Telecommunications in Russia (section)

===Mobile phone service providers===
{{see also|List of mobile network operators in Europe#Russia}}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;"
|-
! style="width:3%;"| No. !! style="width:15%;"| Operator !! style="width:15%;"| Coverage across [[Federal subjects of Russia|89 federal subjects]] (as of Mar 2025) !! style="width:25%;"| Technology (as of Mar 2025) !! style="width:15%;"| Subscribers<br /><small>(in millions)</small> !! style="width:20%;"| Ownership
!Established 
![[Mobile country code]]
|-
! colspan="8" style="text-align:center;"| Big four mobile network operators
|-
|align=right| 1 || [[MTS (telecommunications)|MTS]] || countrywide (83 federal subjects) ''(except [[Republic of Crimea (Russia)|Crimea]], [[Sevastopol]], [[Luhansk People's Republic|Luhansk]], [[Donetsk People's Republic|Donetsk]], [[Zaporozhye Oblast (Russia)|Zaporozhye]], [[Kherson Oblast (Russia)|Kherson]])'' || [[GSM]]-900/1800&nbsp;MHz ([[GPRS]], [[Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution|EDGE]])<br />900/2100&nbsp;MHz [[Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]], [[High-Speed Downlink Packet Access|HSDPA]], [[High-Speed Uplink Packet Access|HSUPA]], [[Evolved HSPA|HSPA+]]<br />800/900/1800/2100/2600&nbsp;MHz [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]], [[Voice over LTE|VoLTE]]<br />800/900/1800&nbsp;MHz [[Narrowband IoT|NB-IoT]], 4900&nbsp;MHz [[5G NR]] || 81.9 (Q3 2024)<ref name="MTS">{{cite web |url=https://moskva.mts.ru/about/media-centr/soobshheniya-kompanii/finansovaya-otchetnost/2024-11-19/finansovye-i-operacionnye-rezultaty-gruppy-mts-za-3-kvartal-2024 |title=Финансовые и операционные результаты Группы МТС за 3 квартал 2024 |website=mts.ru|access-date=2025-01-30}}</ref> || [[Sistema|PJSC Sistema]] (42.09%),<br />PJSC MTS (1.93%),<br />free float (50.03%)<ref>[https://moskva.mts.ru/about/investoram-i-akcioneram/korporativnoe-upravlenie/struktura-akcionernogo-kapitala-pao-mts Структура акционерного капитала ПАО «МТС»]</ref>
|1993||25001
|-
|align=right| 2 || [[MegaFon]] || countrywide (83 federal subjects) ''(except [[Republic of Crimea (Russia)|Crimea]], [[Sevastopol]], [[Luhansk People's Republic|Luhansk]], [[Donetsk People's Republic|Donetsk]], [[Zaporozhye Oblast (Russia)|Zaporozhye]], [[Kherson Oblast (Russia)|Kherson]])'' || [[GSM]]-900/1800&nbsp;MHz ([[GPRS]], [[Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution|EDGE]])<br />900/2100&nbsp;MHz [[Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]], [[High-Speed Downlink Packet Access|HSDPA]], [[High-Speed Uplink Packet Access|HSUPA]], [[Evolved HSPA|HSPA+]]<br />800/1800/2500/2600&nbsp;MHz [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]], [[LTE Advanced|LTE-A]], [[Voice over LTE|VoLTE]]<br />1800/2100/2600&nbsp;MHz [[5G NR]] || 77.26 (Q2 2024)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://corp.megafon.ru/press/news/federalnye_novosti/federal/20240816-1000.html |title=МегаФон подвёл финансовые итоги первого полугодия 2024 года
 |publisher=MegaFon |date=2024-08-16}}</ref> || OOO USM Holdings (50%),<br />OOO AF Telecom Holdings (50%)<ref>[https://corp.megafon.ru/investoram/stock/share_capital/ Структура акционерного капитала ПАО «МегаФон»]</ref>
|1993||25002
|-
|align=right| 3 || [[T2 (telecommunications company)|t2]] || 70 federal subjects<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ixbt.com/news/2025/03/03/rossijskij-operator-t2-vyhodit-v-stavropolskij-kraj-.html |title=Российский оператор T2 выходит в Ставропольский край |lang=ru |website=ixbt.com |date=2025-03-03 |access-date=2025-03-10 |url-status=live}}</ref> || [[GSM]]-900/1800&nbsp;MHz ([[GPRS]], [[Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution|EDGE]])<br />2100&nbsp;MHz [[Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]], [[High-Speed Downlink Packet Access|HSDPA]], [[High-Speed Uplink Packet Access|HSUPA]], [[Evolved HSPA|HSPA+]]<br />450/800/900/1800/2100/2300/2600&nbsp;MHz [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]] || 48.0 (Q3 2024)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.company.rt.ru/upload/protected/iblock/372/4afrln3roekkqg9u26xdycmm9u7l66h1/3q2024_Press-release_RUS_final.pdf|title=Финансовые и операционные результаты деятельности «Ростелекома» за III квартал и 9 месяцев 2024 г.|website=rt.ru|access-date=2025-01-30 }}</ref> ||[[Rostelecom|PJSC Rostelecom]]
|2003||25020
|-
|align=right| 4 || [[Beeline (brand)|Beeline]] || 83 federal subjects || [[GSM]]-900/1800&nbsp;MHz ([[GPRS]], [[Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution|EDGE]])<br />900/2100&nbsp;MHz [[Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]], [[High-Speed Downlink Packet Access|HSDPA]], [[High-Speed Uplink Packet Access|HSUPA]], [[Evolved HSPA|HSPA+]]<br />800/1800/2100/2600&nbsp;MHz [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]], [[LTE Advanced|LTE-A]], [[Voice over LTE|VoLTE]] || 44.1 (Q3 2023)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://beelinenow.ru/articles/finansovye-i-operatsionnye-rezultaty-bilayna-za-3-kvartal-2023-goda/|title=Финансовые и операционные результаты билайна за 3 квартал 2023 года|access-date=2025-01-31}}</ref> || [[PJSC VimpelCom]]
|1993||25099
|-
! colspan="8" style="text-align:center;"| Regional mobile network operators
|-
|align=right| 5 || [https://motivtelecom.ru/ MOTIV] || [[Sverdlovsk Oblast|Sverdlovsk]], [[Kurgan Oblast|Kurgan]], [[Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug|Khanty-Mansi]], [[Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug|Yamalo-Nenets]] || [[GSM]]-1800&nbsp;MHz <br />1800/2500&nbsp;MHz [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]], [[Voice over LTE|VoLTE]]  || 2.5 (2024)<ref>[https://motivtelecom.ru/sverdlovsk_oblast/about О компании Мотив]</ref> || OOO EKATERINBURG-2000
|1996||25035
|-
|align=right| 6 || [https://tattelecom.ru/ Tattelecom] || [[Tatarstan]] || [[GSM]]-1800&nbsp;MHz <br />1800&nbsp;MHz [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]]  || 2.0 (2024)<ref>[https://my.tattelecom.ru/about/ Таттелеком в цифрах]</ref> || PJSC Tattelecom
|1998||25027
|-
|align=right| 7 || [https://phoenix-dnr.ru/ Phoenix] || [[Donetsk People's Republic|Donetsk]] || [[GSM]]-900/1800&nbsp;MHz <br />2100&nbsp;MHz [[Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]]<br />800/900/1800/2600&nbsp;MHz [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]] || 1.5 (2023)<ref>{{cite web |title=Донецкий мобильный оператор «Феникс» заработает во всей России |url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/technology/articles/2023/10/27/1003043-feniks-vsei-rossii |access-date=6 March 2025 |language=ru}}</ref> || SUE [[Donetsk People's Republic|DPR]] "ROS"
|2015||25097
|-
|align=right| 8 || [https://mcs.ooo/ MKS] || [[Luhansk People's Republic|Luhansk]] || [[GSM]]-900/1800&nbsp;MHz <br />2100&nbsp;MHz [[Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]]<br />900/1800/2600&nbsp;MHz [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]] || 1.0 (2022)<ref>[https://mcs.ooo/info О компании - ООО «МКС»]</ref> || OOO MKS
|2015||25098
|-
|align=right| 9 || [[K-Telecom]] || [[Republic of Crimea (Russia)|Crimea]], [[Sevastopol]], [[Luhansk People's Republic|Luhansk]], [[Donetsk People's Republic|Donetsk]], [[Zaporozhye Oblast (Russia)|Zaporozhye]], [[Kherson Oblast (Russia)|Kherson]] || [[GSM]]-900/1800&nbsp;MHz <br />2100&nbsp;MHz [[Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]]<br />2600&nbsp;MHz [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]] || 0.5 (2021) || OOO K-Telecom
|2014||25032, 25096
|-
|align=right| 10 || [[Miranda (telecommunications company)|Miranda]] || [[Republic of Crimea (Russia)|Crimea]], [[Sevastopol]], [[Luhansk People's Republic|Luhansk]], [[Donetsk People's Republic|Donetsk]], [[Zaporozhye Oblast (Russia)|Zaporozhye]], [[Kherson Oblast (Russia)|Kherson]] || [[GSM]]-900&nbsp;MHz <br />2100&nbsp;MHz [[Universal Mobile Telecommunications System|UMTS]]<br />450&nbsp;MHz [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]]  || 0.5 (2024)<ref>{{cite web |title="Миртелеком" запустил 450 базовых станции в Запорожской и Херсонской областях в 2024 году |url=https://tass.ru/ekonomika/21659709 |access-date=6 March 2025 |language=ru}}</ref> || OOO Miranda-Media
|2014||25054
|-
|align=right| 11 || [https://vt.ru/ Vainah Telecom] || [[Chechnya]] || [[GSM]]-900/1800&nbsp;MHz <br />2300&nbsp;MHz [[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]] || 0.1 (2020)<ref>{{cite web |title=Связь с вайнахским акцентом |url=https://www.comnews.ru/content/211049/2020-10-22/2020-w43/svyaz-vaynakhskim-akcentom |access-date=6 March 2025 |language=ru}}</ref> || JSC Vainah Telecom
|2009||25008
|}

In 1963, [[USSR]]'s first mobile phone network using the [[car phone]] came into operation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://englishrussia.com/2006/09/18/first-russian-mobile-phone/|title=First Russian Mobile Phone{{Snd}} English Russia|publisher=|accessdate=15 June 2016}}</ref> Initial selection of technological mobile standard in Russia had been left for market forces by issuing licenses for different standards. Later, regulatory authorities have developed stricter policy. However, there still exists a great variety of both analogue and digital standards. [[Nordic Mobile Telephone|NMT]] standard was a first generation analogue mobile technology that still has footstep in Russia, employed by commercial mobile operators since the early 90s.<ref>Nordiac Mobile Telephone</ref> Regional operators have deployed the [[GSM]]<ref>Global System For Mobile Communications</ref> networks in Russia since 1995, originally in the 900&nbsp;MHz frequency band. [[GSM]] standard is dominating in Russian mobile market with small number of [[NMT-450]], [[Advanced Mobile Phone System|AMPS]]/[[DAMPS]] subscribers.

In 1994, a joint venture of [[Moscow City Telephone Network]], [[T-Mobile International AG|T-Mobile]] and [[Siemens]], which later became part of [[Mobile TeleSystems]], offered Russia's first mobile phone service for the public in [[Moscow]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtsgsm.com/about/history/|title=History|publisher=|accessdate=15 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100309083948/http://www.mtsgsm.com/about/history/|archive-date=9 March 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the same year in June, [[VimpelCom]] also started [[Beeline (telecommunications)|Beeline]] mobile phone service.<ref>[http://www.vimpelcom.com/about/history.wbp History of VimpelCom] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091026143245/http://vimpelcom.com/about/history.wbp |date=2009-10-26 }}</ref>

In 2002, MegaFon was formed to provide all-Russia service, amalgamating Sonic Duo of Moscow, Mobikom-Novosibirsk, and other companies.<ref>[http://eng.megafon.ru/company/ History of MegaFon] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100214063223/http://eng.megafon.ru/company/ |date=2010-02-14 }}</ref> In that year also, the number of mobile subscribers in Russia soared by 130% to 18mn, implying penetration of 12.3%, compared with 5.4% at the end of the previous year. The continued strong growth of the cellular subscriber base was largely due to the accelerating regional rollout of the major national cellular operators. In 2007, MegaFon started Russia's first [[3G]] service in [[Saint Petersburg]].<ref>[http://www.3gnewsroom.com/3g_news/2007/oct/news_7748.shtml MegaFon starts 3G network.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312062810/http://3gnewsroom.com/3g_news/2007/oct/news_7748.shtml |date=2010-03-12 }} (2007)</ref> In May 2008, [[3G]] network M7 was deployed in St. Petersburg, in [[Kazan]] in June of that year, and in [[Sochi]] in July of that year. By 2010, 3G networks covered largely most of Russia.

Russian [[WiMAX]] operator Scartel ([[Yota]] brand), finished in 2010 its implementation of a trial LTE network in [[Kazan]] and plans to deploy LTE networks in [[Novosibirsk]] and [[Samara, Russia|Samara]]. In July 2010 Scartel received approval from regulator [[Roskomnadzor]] to abandon WiMAX for LTE, re-using its existing spectrum. the regulator had however previously insisted that the frequencies allocated to Scartel for WiMAX could not be used for other access types.

In April 2011, MegaFon deployed high-definition voice services on its Moscow and Sochi [[GSM]] and [[UMTS]] networks. As the key supplier of core and access networks to MegaFon, Nokia Siemens Networks was responsible for the HD voice implementation, which is also a world first for a commercial GSM network.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.developingtelecoms.com/commercial-hd-voice-services-debut-on-russian-gsm-network.html |title = Commercial HD Voice services debut on Russian GSM network |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507183555/http://www.developingtelecoms.com/commercial-hd-voice-services-debut-on-russian-gsm-network.html |archive-date=7 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In early 2011, Rostelecom signed a memorandum of understanding with the three main MNOs to develop a joint [[LTE network]] using the infrastructure to be built by Yota. The network will expand LTE availability to 70 million Russians in 180 cities by 2014, vastly improving regional broadband availability in coming years.<ref name="lteportal2011"/> In December 2011, Rostelecom signed an agreement with [[Yota]], a Russian mobile broadband provider, to jointly develop and use 4G wireless networks. The agreement facilitated the development and expansion of advanced communications technologies in the country, including the latest [[4G]]-[[LTE (telecommunication)|LTE]] system. Both companies will make full use of each other's telecommunications infrastructures and advanced telecommunications services will be made more accessible to Russian residents. As part of the agreement, Rostelecom have the right to use Yota's wireless networks and to provide customers with telecommunications services as a [[MVNO]]. The agreement will also provide Rostelecom with access to Yota's existing telecommunications equipment sites and its wire communications channels at these sites. In return, Yota will use Rostelecom's wire communications channels at their telecommunication equipment sites; it will gain access to Rostelecom's Internet connection and inter-city backbone links and the company's existing telecommunication equipment sites and data centres.<ref>Telecompaper: "Rostelecom, Yota to jointly develop, use LTE networks", Friday 9 December 2011</ref>

In September 2012, [[MTS (network provider)|MTS]] launched the country's first TD-LTE network, using the TD-LTE spectrum in the 2595-2620&nbsp;MHz band it secured in February.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intomobile.com/2012/09/22/mts-launches-first-tdlte-network-russia/|title=MTS launches first TD-LTE network in Russia|date=22 September 2012|access-date=15 June 2016}}</ref> In May 2013, there were over one million LTE subscribers in Russia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ewdn.com/2013/06/13/russia-has-over-a-million-lte-subscribers/|title=Russia has over a million LTE subscribers|first1=Oleg|last1=Kouzbit|first2=East-West Digital|last2=News|date=13 June 2013|access-date=15 June 2016}}</ref>

The 2012 tender of the Ministry of Communications awarded licenses to deploy LTE networks in the lower (720&ndash;790&nbsp;MHz, 791&ndash;862&nbsp;MHz) and upper (2500&ndash;2690&nbsp;MHz) bands to the "big 3" (Megafon, MTS and Veon) and to the national fixed-line operator Rostelecom. Each of the winners relies on two lanes wide in the upper range of 10&nbsp;MHz and 7.5&nbsp;MHz in the lower. The upper range of frequencies considered to be free and is suitable for deploying LTE. However, the lower, mostly occupied by the security forces and navigation and radar systems.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.comnews.ru/node/80237| title =263 LTE-сети запущены в коммерческую эксплуатацию| work =comnews.ru|date = 21 January 2014|accessdate=22 January 2014}}</ref> On September of that year [[MTS (network provider)|MTS]] launched the country's first [[Time-Division Long-Term Evolution|TD-LTE network]], using the TD-LTE spectrum in the 2595&ndash;2620&nbsp;MHz band it secured in February.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intomobile.com/2012/09/22/mts-launches-first-tdlte-network-russia/|title=MTS launches first TD-LTE network in Russia|date=22 September 2012|publisher=|accessdate=15 June 2016}}</ref> [[Nokia Siemens]] had provided its Single Radio Access Network using energy-efficient Flexi Multiradio Base Stations as well as its Liquid Core-based Evolved Packet Core platform.

In November 2013 Megafon began to provide the [[LTE Advanced|LTE network]] in the Republic of [[Kalmykia]], the [[Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug]], and the [[Altai Krai]]. The network was launched in major cities in the regions [[Elista]], [[Noyabrsk]], [[Novy Urengoy]] and [[Gorno-Altaisk]].<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.comnews.ru/node/77824| title ="МегаФон" добавил еще LTE| work =comnews.ru| accessdate = 16 November 2013}}</ref> On the same month Mobile phone retailer [[Svyaznoi]] started selling [[SIM card]]s under the Svyaznoi Mobile brand in November, becoming a new [[mobile virtual network operator]] (MVNO), using [[MTS (network provider)|MTS]] infrastructure. [[Interregional TransitTelekom]] said a month later that it also plans to launch an MVNO in April 2014 targeting migrant workers, offering low cost calls to [[Central Asia]]n countries.

In December 2013, Minister of Communications, [[Nikolay Nikiforov]] recalled that in 2011 270 base stations of LTE were launched, in 2012 about 4,000, in 2013 10,000 and it is planned that in 2014–2015 more than 15 thousand such stations.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.comnews.ru/node/79632| title =Минкомсвязи верит в LTE| work =comnews.ru| accessdate = 6 December 2013}}</ref> On the same month it was announced that the "biggest four", [[Rostelecom]], [[Mobile TeleSystems|MTS]], [[Beeline (telecommunications)|Beeline]] and [[Megafon]] completed the construction of communication facilities in the areas of transport corridor "North{{Snd}} South" and "East{{Snd}} West", with a total length of more than 11 thousand km. Work was done to ensure that these routes support advanced cellular communication, and operators spent money under the federal program to improve road safety and implementation of the "Glonass Era". Objects were built on federal roads M5 Ural, M6 Caspian, M53, M55 Baikal and M60 Ussuri according to the press service of the Ministry of Communications of Russia. Costs for the construction of antenna towers were divided by the operators on an equal share, and the cost to provide power to the communication infrastructure undertaken by the state.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.comnews.ru/node/79780| title =Операторы завладели трассами| work =comnews.ru| accessdate = 21 December 2013}}</ref> At the end of this month Scartel ([[Yota]] brand) launched LTE network in the cities of Cheboksary, Irkutsk, Kirov, Omsk, Penza, and Ulyanovsk.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.1prime.biz/news/telecommunications/_Russias_Scartel_to_launch_LTE_networks_in_six_cities_on_Wednesday/0/%7BD2014A0C-844C-4F0C-B361-D7C459FCC1CE%7D.uif| title =Russia’s Scartel to launch LTE networks in six cities on Wednesday| work =PRIME| accessdate = 5 January 2014}}</ref>

On December 4, 2013, the first Russian smartphone, [[Yota]]phone was launched. The idea of YotaPhone was created in Russia, but manufacturing and assembly of the phone is done in China.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gq.ru/entertainment/kak-i-zachem-delayut-dvuhstoronnij-yotaphone-2|title=Как и зачем делают двухсторонний YotaPhone 2|website=www.gq.ru|language=ru|access-date=2019-02-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://yotaphone.com/ru-ru/support/faq/97/|title=Производство YotaPhone 2{{Snd}} как это происходит?|website=yotaphone.com|access-date=2019-02-28}}</ref> YotaPhone is a smartphone with support for fourth generation networks, LTE. Feature of the device is the presence of a 4.3-inch screens on two sides: The LCD one is on the front, while the black and white screen with "electronic ink" is on the back side. The first device was awarded to [[Prime Minister of Russia]] [[Dmitry Medvedev]] by [[Rostec]] state corporation head, [[Sergei Chemezov]].<ref>{{cite web| url =http://itar-tass.com/ekonomika/809130| title =В России стартовали продажи YotaPhone| work =[[ITAR TASS]]| accessdate = 14 December 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url =http://english.pravda.ru/news/russia/04-12-2013/126306-yotaphone-0/| title =Russian PM Medvedev receives dual-screen YotaPhone| work =[[Pravda]]| accessdate = 14 December 2013}}</ref>

At the end of 2013 there were about 239 million SIM cards in use in the country, which is equal to 168% of the population.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.themoscowtimes.com/business/article/virtual-world-bringing-real-money-and-challenges-to-russia/492038.html|title=Virtual World Bringing Real Money and Challenges to Russia|work =[[The Moscow Times]]| access-date = 25 December 2013}}</ref> The [[Wireless access point|access point]]s (AP) are built in long-distance [[telephone exchange]]s (LDTEs), Russian fixed-line communication infrastructure which is present in every province. As a result, interconnecting mobile operator only needs to create "last kilometer" circuits to the regional LDTE, the requirement already imposed by its mobile license. [[Rostelecom]], the leading fixed-line operator in the country has regional subsidiaries who provide cellular services.

[[Rostelecom]] the largest fixed-line operator and former monopoly, together with its subsidiary [[Tele2 Russia|T2]] provide mobile services on the territory of 65 regions of Russia, serving more than 36.5 million subscribers. During the 2010s, Rostelecom and Tele2 built mobile networks of the third generation in 40 regions of Russia. Total planned to install more than 8 thousand base stations. Suppliers of equipment and solutions for the [[3G+]] network are [[Ericsson]] and [[Huawei]].<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.comnews.ru/node/69474| title = Дочка "Ростелекома" начала тестирование сети 3G+ в Красноярске| work =comnews.ru| access-date = 30 November 2013}}</ref>