Editing Telecommunications in Russia

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[[File:Shukhov tower shabolovka moscow 02.jpg|thumb|[[Shukhov Tower]]]]
'''Telecommunications in Russia''' is highly developed and have evolved from the early days of the [[telegraph]] to modern [[fibre broadband]] and high-speed [[4G]] networks. Due to the [[Geography of Russia|enormous size of the country Russia today]] (not to be confused with the [[RT (TV network)|state owned station]]), the country leads in [[List of countries by number of television broadcast stations|the number of TV broadcast stations]] and repeaters. The foundation for [[Privatization in Russia|liberalization of broadcasting]] was laid by the decree signed by the [[President of the USSR]] in 1990. Currently, telecommunication is mainly regulated through the Federal Law "''On Communications''" and the Federal Law "''On Mass Media''"

Telecommunications in Russia has undergone  significant changes since the 1980s, radio was a major new technology in the 1920s. [[Politics of the Soviet Union|Soviet authorities]] realized that the [[amateur radio]] was highly individualistic and encouraged private initiative. Criminal penalties were imposed but the working solution was to avoid broadcasting over the air. Instead radio programs were transmitted by copper wire, using a hub and spoke system, to loudspeakers in approved listening stations, such as the "Red" corner of a factory.<ref>Stephen Lovell, "How Russia learned to listen: radio and the making of [[Soviet culture]]." p 600-1</ref> This resulted in thousands of companies licensed to offer communication services today. There were few channels in the Soviet time, but in the past two decades many new state-run and private-owned [[List of Russian language radio stations|radio stations]] and [[Television in Russia|TV channels]] appeared. The Soviet-time "Ministry of communications of the [[RSFSR]]" was through 1990s transformed to "Ministry for communications and informatization" and in 2004 it was renamed to "Ministry of information technologies and communications (Mininformsvyazi)", and since 2008 [[Ministry of Communications and Mass Media (Russia)|Ministry of Communications and Mass Media]].

Censorship and the issue of [[media freedom in Russia]] have been main themes since the era of the telegraph. Russia is served by an extensive system of automatic [[telephone exchange]]s connected by modern networks of [[fiber-optic]] cable, [[coaxial cable]], [[microwave radio relay]], and a domestic satellite system; cellular telephone service is widely available, expanding rapidly, and includes [[roaming]] service to foreign countries. [[Fiber to the x]] infrastructure has been expanded rapidly in recent years, principally by regional players including Southern Telecom Company, SibirTelecom, ER Telecom and Golden Telecom. Collectively, these players are having a significant impact of [[fiber broadband]] in regional areas, and are enabling operators to take advantage of [[consumer demand]] for faster access and bundled services.

==Early history==
{{further|History of Russian journalism}}
[[File:Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR)(Including Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Tannu Tuva, and island possessions) Telephone and Telegraph Net - DPLA - ccdbdf1ad827dafa3d8dd43a6b2e0935.jpg|thumb|right|Telecommunication network of the Soviet Union (Data between 1923 - 1948)]]
[[File:Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) (Including Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Tannu Tuva, and island possessions) Radio Stations Associated with Basic Telephone and Telegraph Ne - DPLA - 141f902fedabe5ddff8aa373023ac0df.jpg|thumb|right|Radio stations in the Soviet Union, 1947]]
"Networking" can be traced to the spread of [[mail]] and [[History of Russian journalism|journalism]] in Russia, and information transfer by technical means came to Russia with the [[telegraph]] and [[radio]], besides, a 1837 sci-fi novel ''[[Year 4338]]'', by the 19th-century Russian philosopher [[Vladimir Odoevsky]], contains predictions such as "friends' houses are connected by means of magnetic telegraphs that allow people who live far from each other to talk to each other" and "household journals" "having replaced regular correspondence" with "information about the hosts’ good or bad health, family news, various thoughts and comments, small inventions, as well as invitations".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mosnews.com/feature/2005/10/10/bloggingpredicted.shtml |title=Blogging Predicted by a 19th-century Russian Prince |access-date=2007-09-18 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051013083229/http://www.mosnews.com/feature/2005/10/10/bloggingpredicted.shtml |archive-date=October 13, 2005 }} — Mosnews.com, 10.10.2005 (copy at [[Archive.org]]).</ref>

Computing systems [[Computer systems in the Soviet Union|became known in the USSR by the 1950s]]. Starting from 1952, works were held in the Moscow-based [[Lebedev Institute of Precision Mechanics and Computer Engineering|Institute of Precision Mechanics and Computer Engineering]] (headed by [[Sergei Alekseyevich Lebedev|Sergei Lebedev]]) on automated [[missile defense]] system which used a "computer network" which calculated radar data on test missiles through central machine called M-40 and was interchanging information with smaller remote terminals about 100—200 kilometers distant.<ref>{{cite book|last = Бурцев|first = Всеволод|script-title=ru:Московская научная школа академика С.А.Лебедева в развитии вычислительной техники.|url = http://urss.ru/cgi-bin/db.pl?cp=&page=Book&id=7718&lang=Ru&blang=ru&list=8|publisher = Информационные технологии и вычислительные системы. 2002-Вып.3|format = журнал|location = М.|year = 2002|id = 3|pages = 42–43|language=ru}}</ref> The scientists used several locations in the [[USSR]] for their works, the largest was a massive test range to the West from [[Lake Balkhash]]. In the meantime [[amateur radio]] users all over USSR were conducting "[[Peer-to-peer|P2P]]" connections with their comrades worldwide using data codes. Later, a massive "automated data network" called ''Express'' was launched in 1972 to serve needs of [[Russian Railways]].

In 1975, the IT and telecommunications exhibition SVIAZ was launched and has since grown to become the largest such gathering in Eastern Europe and Russia. It is part of the  Russian Week of High Technologies and is held yearly in Moscow in the month of April.<ref name="sviaz_website">{{cite web |title=SVIAZ: exhibition of Information and Communications Technology |url=https://www.sviaz-expo.ru/en/ |website=www.sviaz-expo.ru |access-date=4 April 2023}}</ref><ref name="GEED_sviaz">{{cite web |title=GEED - SVIAZ |url=https://www.geedirectory.com/Home/Info/52066 |website=Global Exhibitions and Events Directory |access-date=4 April 2023}}</ref> From the early 1980s the [[VNIIPAS|All Union Scientific Research Institute for Applied Computerized Systems (''VNIIPAS'')]] was working to implement data connections over the [[X.25]] telephone protocol. A test Soviet connection to Austria in 1982 existed, in 1982 and 1983 there were series of "world computer conferences" at VNIIPAS initiated by the [[U. N.]] where USSR was represented by a team of scientists from many [[Soviet Republics]] headed by biochemist [[Anatole Klyosov]]; the other participating countries were UK, USA, Canada, Sweden, [[Federal Republic of Germany|FRG]], [[East Germany|GDR]], Italy, Finland, Philippines, Guatemala, Japan, Thailand, Luxembourg, Denmark, Brazil and New Zealand.<ref>{{in lang|ru}} [http://www.pseudology.org/webmaster/Klyesov_Internet.htm Двадцать лет спустя, или как начинался Интернет в Советском Союзе] — expanded [http://ogoniok.com/archive/2001/4720/45-23-25/ article] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925002100/http://www.ogoniok.com/archive/2001/4720/45-23-25/ |date=2013-09-25 }} originally from [[Ogonyok]] magazine №45, 2001.</ref>

Also, in 1983 the ''San Francisco Moscow Teleport (SFMT)'' project was started by VNIIPAS and an American team which included [[George Soros]]. It resulted in the creation in the latter 80s of the data transfer operator ''SovAm'' (Soviet-American) ''Teleport''. Meanwhile, on 1 April 1984, a [[April Fools' Day|Fool's Day]] hoax about "Kremlin computer" [[Kremvax]] was made in English-speaking [[Usenet]]. There are reports of spontaneous Internet ([[UUCP]] and [[Channel One Russia|USSR]] and [[telnet]]) connections "from home" through X.25 in the USSR in as early as 1988. In 1990, [[Sky Link (Russia)|Skylink]] ''GlasNet'' non-profit initiative by the US-based [[Association for Progressive Communications]] sponsored Internet usage in several educational projects in the USSR (through Sovam).

===1998 financial crisis===
{{main|1998 Russian financial crisis}}
When the Russian economy's collapse came about in August 1998, the market shrank drastically, where cellular operators [[MTS (network provider)|MTS GSM]], [[Beeline (brand)|Beeline]], [[MegaFon|North West GSM]] and [[Sky Link (Russia)|Skylink]] were squeezed between low traffic and huge foreign currency denominated credits and telecommunications equipment bills. In 1998, [[MTS (network provider)|MTS GSM]], [[Beeline (brand)|Beeline]], [[North-West GSM|North West GSM]] and [[Sky Link (Russia)|Skylink]] prepaid subscriptions were made at a loss and infrastructure investments fell. NMT450 operator Moscow Cellular communications was hardest hit due to its about 50% corporate users. The 1998 crisis also caused many regional operators tariff and payment problems with accumulated debt to vendors; large debts were restructured and foreign investors lost out.<ref>Telecommunications in Russia: from monopolistic village phones, to competitive global players in 20 years, L-F Pau, Prof. Mobile business, Copenhagen Business School and Rotterdam school of management, 2011</ref>

===2000s===
In November 2013 [[President of Russia|President]] Putin instructed [[Dmitry Medvedev's First Cabinet|Dmitry Medvedev's Cabinet]] to provide "modern communication services" to rural settlements throughout Russia with a population of 250 to 500 people, by [[Rostelecom]] at the expense of the provision of universal service. The document does not specify what is meant by "modern communication services", but sources close to the Ministry of Communications and the state operator explain its intention of connecting villages to the wired internet. The budget comes among others, from the Universal Service Fund.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.comnews.ru/node/78201| title =Путин поручил "Ростелекому" подключить к интернету села| work =comnews.ru| access-date = 30 November 2013}}</ref>

==Regulation==
The [[Ministry of Communications and Mass Media (Russia)|Ministry of Communications and Mass Media]] is responsible for establishing and enforcing state policy in the sphere of electronic and postal communications, for promulgating the development and introduction of new information and communication technologies, and for coordinating the work of other state agencies in this area. Legislative oversight is exercised mainly through the State Duma Committee for mass media. The Committee develops mass media-related draft laws, and provides expert analysis of laws submitted by other Duma committees regarding their compliance with current media law.

===Universal Service Fund===
Universal Service Fund is a fund to finance socially important projects, for example, providing payphones in remote settlements. It consists of the contributions of all Russian operators of 1.2% of revenue. These funds are the Federal Communications Agency (Rossvyaz) distributes between 21 universal operator. These operators money comes to the budget, and Rossvâz receives from the budget for compensation and still these amounts roughly coincided, employee profile departments. But universal operators recently complained that they themselves lack the money to compensate for losses in the implementation of social projects.

In February 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed amendments to the federal law "''On Communications''", which set Rostelecom a single operator of universal communication services. The company must commit itself to support the existing infrastructure of Universal Service, including payphones and access points (VRM) on the Internet. In addition to these duties, a single operator will also fight the digital divide by providing broadband at speeds of at least 10&nbsp;Mbit / s settlements up to 250 people.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.comnews.ru/node/80789|title="Ростелеком" получит миллиарды на ШПД| work = comnews.ru|date=20 February 2014| access-date = 21 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url =http://ria.ru/economy/20140220/995994372.html|title=Инвестпрограмма "Ростелекома" до 2018 года превысит 270 млрд рублей| work =[[RIA Novosti]]|date=20 February 2014| access-date = 21 February 2014}}</ref>

==Landline telephony==
{{see also|Telephone numbers in Russia}}
[[File:Moscow-MGTS-booth.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Telephone booth]] of [[Moscow City Telephone Network]]]]

'''Telephones – main lines in use:''' 32.277&nbsp;million (2016)

'''Telephones – mobile cellular:''' 229.126&nbsp;million (2016)

The telephone system employs an extensive system of modern network elements such as digital [[telephone exchange]]s, [[mobile switching centre]]s, [[media gateway]]s and [[signalling gateway]]s at the core, interconnected by a wide variety of transmission systems using [[fibre-optics]] or [[Microwave transmission|Microwave radio relay]] networks. The [[access network]], which connects the subscriber to the core, is highly diversified with different copper-pair, optic-fibre and wireless technologies.; cellular services, both analog and digital, are available in many areas. In the rural areas, the telephone services are still outdated, inadequate, and low density.

The [[Russian Empire|Tsarist government of Russia]] issued its first decree on the development of urban telephone networks in 1881 and the first telephone exchanges in the Empire opened the following year.<ref>Vyshnevsky, p. 16; and Psurtsev, Ch. 1 and pp. 179ff.</ref> Initially, telephone exchanges were granted to private developers as concessions in the major cities, but in 1884 the government began to construct the first of its own exchanges and subsequently suspended the award of new concessions. Intercity telephone communications grew very slowly, with only a dozen lines in place by the start of the 20th century, most serving [[Moscow]]-[[Saint Petersburg]] traffic. After 1900, when the initial concessions had expired, the government eased control over private concessionaires and a burst of new construction took place. Included in the expansion during this period was the slow growth of exchanges built and operated by rural ''[[Zemstva]]'', which were treated essentially as private concessionaires by the [[Russian Empire|Imperial government]].

Telephones played a significant role during the upheavals of 1917. In February, according to the last tsarist Chief of Police, 'neither the military authorities nor the mutineers thought of occupying the Telephone Exchange'; consequently it continued to function, serving both sides, until the operators finally left their
positions amidst the growing confusion.<ref>Aleksei T. Vassileyev, The Okhrana, the Russian Secret Police (Philadelphia, 1930), p. 220.</ref> In early July, however, the Provisional Government, fearing a Bolshevik coup, reportedly ordered the central telephone exchange to boycott calls requested by Bolsheviks (automatic switching systems had not yet been introduced).

In 1918, when the Soviet government moved to Moscow and war conditions were producing extreme shortages, [[Sovnarkom]] ordered a reduction of 50% in the volume of telephone communications in the new capital, to ensure that official needs of the new government would be served. The primary consequence of this decree for individuals was the 'communalisation' of telephones in private houses and flats. According to the decree, restrictions were focused on the 'parasitic stratum' of society, in the interest of the 'working population'. With the exception of personal phones belonging to high government officials, doctors and midwives, telephones in private flats were placed at the disposal of 'house committees', to be made available for 'general use' free of charge. Houses without telephones were entitled to free use of the communal phone of a neighbouring house; the decree further ordered the immediate installation of at least 150 telephones in public squares, particularly in outlying regions.<ref>Sovnarkom decree, 11 July 1918, 'On the Use of the Moscow City Telephone Exchange', signed by Lenin (the text of all Sovnarkom decrees 1918-20 is taken from Dekrety Sovetskoi Vlasti)</ref>

One year later Sovnarkom [[nationalization|nationalized]] all telephone systems in the Russian Republic-including all intercity, urban, concessionary and zemstvo exchangesand assigned their administration and operation to the [[People's Commissariat for Posts and Telegraphs of the RSFSR]]. Beginning with the nationalization of telephones in 1919, Soviet policy exhibited two main characteristics: telephones increasingly became instruments for the bureaucracy and bureaucrats, and telephones in general were accorded a low investment priority. In March 1920, for instance, government institutions were exempted from the telephone tariff, receiving the right to use the telephone without payment, albeit for sharply restricted periods.

Until the end of 1991 (the end of the USSR), the sole fixed-line telephone operator in the country was the [[Ministry of Communications of the USSR]]. The state possessed all telecommunications structure and access networks. In 1994, the investment communication company (OJSC “Sviazinvest”) was established by the [[Decree of the President of Russia|Presidential Decree]] No.1989 dated 10 October 1994 “''On the specific features of the state management of the electric communication network for public use in Russian Federation''”. The authorised capital of OJSC “Sviazinvest” was formed by the consolidation of federal shares of joint stock companies acting in the area of electric communications and established during the privatisation of the state enterprises for electric communications. The seven regional incumbents which make up Svyazinvest, majority-owned by the government, in early 2011 merged with the key subsidiary [[Rostelecom]]. The move created an integrated company based on [[Rostelecom]] which will be better placed to exploit economies of scale in coming years.<ref name="lteportal2011">{{cite web|url=http://www.lteportal.com/MediaChannel/Articles/LTE__LTE-Advanced;6/Market_Analysis;40/Research_and_Markets:_Russia_-_Telecoms,_IP_Networks,_Digital_Media_and_Forecasts;2466|title=Research and Markets: Russia - Telecoms, IP Networks, Digital Media and Forecasts|date=June 1, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203030306/http://www.lteportal.com/MediaChannel/Articles/LTE__LTE-Advanced;6/Market_Analysis;40/Research_and_Markets:_Russia_-_Telecoms,_IP_Networks,_Digital_Media_and_Forecasts;2466|archive-date=December 3, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Cross-country digital [[Circuit switching|trunk]] lines run from [[Saint Petersburg]] to [[Vladivostok]], and from Moscow to [[Novorossiysk]].

Liberalization of the long-distance communication market is another market driver. In January 2006, Russia passed a new law in relation to long-distance telecommunications, which partially broke up the monopolization that Rostelecom had been enjoying in the toll market. The law now allows other carriers to operate toll services. Currently,{{When|date=January 2012}} there are about 32 active companies in this space, including [[Interregional TransitTelekom]] (MTT), [[Golden Telecom]], [[TransTelekom]] and [[Synterra Media]]. share of fixed-line business of [[Rostelecom]]'s main competitors varied in 2012 from 6% ([[Megafon]]) to 19% ([[Mobile TeleSystems|MTS]]). Still, At the beginning of the 2010s, Rostelecom is de facto a monopoly local telephony provider to households in Russia, except for few regions, where incumbents were not part of Svyazinvest holding after the privatization in the early 1990s (the cities of [[Moscow]], [[Pskov]], [[Kostroma]], the republics of [[Tatarstan]], [[Bashkortostan]], as well as [[Tuva]], [[Chukotka Autonomous Okrug|Chukotka]], [[Chechnya]], and [[Ingushetia]]).<ref>Rostelecom: From an outsiderto a true Big 4 name, Gazprombank</ref>

The substitution of long-distance fixed-line voice services by mobile and IP traffic sped up after 2008, when mobile operators shifted to the fixed-line segment ([[PJSC Vimpelcom]] was the first company out of the Big 3 to acquire [[Golden Telecom]] in early 2008) and simultaneously increased investments into own trunk network infrastructure to support, rapid 3G traffic growth. In February 2014 [[Megafon]], SkyLink, through its subsidiary NetByNet purchased Tele-MIG Besides a company founded in 2003 which provides fixed telephony, IP-telephony and data transmission in [[Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug]].<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.comnews.ru/node/80683| title =NetByNet проник в Тюменскую область| work =comnews.ru|date=14 February 2014| access-date = 14 February 2014}}</ref>

Russian regulation stipulates that new players must build their own networks. The growth of traffic between Europe and Asia is an additional opportunity; more than 6,000&nbsp;km of international communication cables were built during the first nine months of 2007, representing a 48.5% increase on 2006, according to the Russian Ministry of Communication and Mass Media.<ref>Building Russia's Telecom Networks - Opportunities, challenges and solutions</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|year 
|1911
|1937
|1952
|1873
|1976
|1979
|1980
|1981
|1982
|1983
|1984
|1985
|1986
|1987
|1988
|1989
|1990
|1991
|1992
|1993
|1994
|1995
|1996
|1997
|1998
|1999
|2000||2002 || 2003 || 2004 || 2005 || 2006 ||2007 || 2008 || 2009 || 2010 || 2011 || 2012 || 
|-
|Number of subscribers (in mill.)
|11.1
|21.2
|98.3
|45.8
|54.7
|35.8
|89.7
|32.3
|67.6
|65.7
|65.9
|23.4
|45.7
|28.7
|21.5
|25.9
|25.4
|24.2
|23.2
|23.4
|23.3
|23.1
|23.5
|23.6
|23.8
|23.9
|23.7||35.5|| 36.1|| 38.5|| 40.1|| 43.9 || 45.2 || 45.5 || 45.4 || 44.9 || 44.2 || 43.1 || 
|}

===Tariffs===
Tariffs in the fixed-line segment are determined by the Federal Tariff Service on an annual basis, taking into consideration inflation and the operators' expenses. The price competition in the long-distance segment increased as mobile operators began implementing promotional tariffs to stimulate voice traffic growth after the crisis (long-distance traffic is predominantly built by corporate clients). At the same time, traditional operators had limited room for maneuver as intra-zonal and domestic LD tariffs, which are subject to regulation by the government, remained flat over the last three years. As a result, mobile operators managed to bite off a heavy share of intraregional and long-distance market from traditional fixed-line operators, first of all regional operators of Svyazinvest, which are now united under Rostelecom.<ref>Rostelecom: From an outsider to a true Big 4 name, Gazprombank</ref>

===Public switched telephone network===
Russian [[public switched telephone network]] (PSTN) has specific features. The lowest part of this model is example of the local network in the middle and large cities. The central office (CO) is connected to the tandem exchange (TE). In some cases, COs are connected by the directly{{Clarify|date=March 2019}}. Such possibility is shown by the dotted lines for three COs connected to the TEIII. COs may be directly connected with the toll exchange. This option is shown by the dotted line for the COII1. Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX) is served by the nearest CO. All TEs are forming the meshed network. Up to the 1990s, TE was independent element of the local network. Operators did not use the equipment combined functions Tandem and Toll Exchanges. So, TE provided connections between COs of the local network, and access to the toll exchange. A function of the toll exchange is to establish connections for the long-distance and international calls. Last type of calls is served by the Gateway (GW). Processing of the local calls is performed by the COs and TEs. If a subscriber dials digit "8" (prefix of the long-distance connection in the national PSTN) all further processing of the call is a function of a toll exchange. The [[Telephone numbers in Russia|numbering plan for the cellular networks]] based on the Area Code (three digits) and number of mobile terminal (seven digits). In this case, the Area Code defines the concrete cellular network.<ref>Research Institute of Telecommunications, St. Petersburg, Russia</ref>

==Mobile phone==

Mobile phone industry in Russia is a trade industry of [[cell phone]] devices and [[Mobile network operator]]s in [[Russia]]. Since the [[Dissolution of the Soviet Union|collapse of the Soviet Union]] in the 1991 it had seen a great expansion over the last decades becoming one of the largest in the world. In terms of number of smartphone users, Russia is the 4th biggest smartphone market in the world sitting behind only China, India, and USA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eoto.tech/overview-russian-smartphone-market/|title=A glimpse into the Russian smartphone market|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=}}</ref> As of 2025, there are four mobile phone service brands that cover all Russia: [[MTS (telecommunications)|MTS]], [[MegaFon]], [[T2 (telecommunications company)|t2]] and [[Beeline (brand)|Beeline]]. 

The country's telecom regulator is [[Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media|Roskomnadzor (RKN)]]. There are four nationwide mobile phone service providers who possess 2G, 3G and 4G licenses in every region of Russia (so called ''Big-4''), with additional regional operators. The mobile phone service provider licensing in Russia is under the control of Rospechat, the [[Federal Agency on Press and Mass Communications of Russia]].

For new technologies, Russia's mobile phone industry has depended on overseas companies.<ref>[http://www.telegeography.com/cu/article.php?article_id=21218 Russia's three providers plan 3G]</ref> For example, in 2009, MegaFon revealed that Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) was selected as the winner of its tender to building 3G network and that the following companies together would collaborate on MegaFon's 3G deployment and upgrades until 2010:<ref>[http://wirelessfederation.com/news/18302-megafon-reveals-3g-suppliers-russia/ MegaFon's 3G plan] (2009)</ref> [[Nokia Siemens Networks]] (NSN), [[Huawei Technologies]], [[Alcatel-Lucent]], [[Ericsson]] and [[ZTE]]. The Russian mobile phone service operators have been active in their presence in the [[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]] and other foreign countries. As of 2025, Beeline is already in [[Kazakhstan]], [[Kyrgyzstan]] and [[Uzbekistan]]. MegaFon is in [[Tajikistan]], and [[Mobile TeleSystems|MTS]] is in [[Belarus]].

===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>

===Russian manufacturers===
[[File:Tver streets 5.jpg|thumb|right|180px|[[Euroset]] retail pavilion in [[Tver]], Russia]]

*[[Beeline (brand)|Beeline]]
*[[w:ru:Explay|Explay]] (become subsidiary of Fly in 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnews.ru/news/top/2015-12-21_svyaznoj_prodal_explay|title="Связной" продал Explay|publisher=|accessdate=10 September 2016}}</ref>)
*[[w:ru:Gresso|Gresso]]
*[[w:ru:Highscreen|Highscreen]]
*[[Megafon]]
*[[MTS (network provider)|MTS]]
*[[Rovercomputers|RoverPC]]
*[[teXet]]
*[[Sitronics]]
*[[Yotaphone]]

===Number portability===
[[Mobile number portability]] officially became available in Russia on December 1, 2013. An appropriate legislation signed into law by President Vladimir Putin a year earlier, on December 26, 2012. Operators have repeatedly stated that the time allotted is not enough to run services.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.comnews.ru/node/79562|title =Абоненты начали голосовать ногами| work =comnews.ru| accessdate = 16 December 2013}}</ref> Within 12 days since the law came into force, 9090 subscribers filed applications to move to another operator, of which only 57 had been satisfied.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.comnews.ru/node/79762|title =MNP разменяла первые десять тысяч| work =comnews.ru| accessdate = 14 December 2013}}</ref>

==Radio==
{{see also|Radio Day}}
[[Radio Rossii]] is the primary public radio station in Russia. [[Digital radio]] broadcasting is developing fast with the [[Voice of Russia]] announced on 1 July 2004, the successful implementation, and planned expansion, of its [[Digital Radio Mondiale|DRM]] broadcasts on short-wave and medium-wave. In September 2009, the [[Russian State Commission for Radio Frequencies]], the national regulator of broadcasting, has decided on the DRM has the standard for [[mediumwave]] and [[shortwave]] services.

'''Radios:''' 61.5&nbsp;million (1998)

'''Radio broadcasting stations:''' AM 420, FM 447, shortwave 56 (1998).

==Television==
{{Main|Television in Russia|List of countries by number of television broadcast stations}}
Privately owned stations are often owned by industrial groups either controlled by the State or with close connections to the government so that they can be called semi-state. Both state and private stations can have a national status (broadcasters that reach over 70% of the national territory), or a regional, district or local status. Local partners are often united in bigger networks.

In the 1970s and 1980s, television become the preeminent mass medium. In 1988 approximately 75 million households owned television sets, and an estimated 93 percent of the population watched television. Moscow, the base from which most of the television stations broadcast, transmitted some 90 percent of the country's programs, with the help of more than 350 stations and nearly 1,400 relay facilities.

There are about 15,000 TV transmitters. Development of domestic digital TV transmitters, led within "Multichannel" research program, had already been finished. New domestic digital transmitters have been developed and installed in Nizhniy Novgorod and Saint Petersburg in 2001–2002.

The state television broadcaster is [[Pervy kanal]] (Channel One).<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/russian-state-tv-censor-fargo-putin-north-korea-comparison-609136|title=If you're watching 'Fargo' in Russia, you missed some unflattering Putin references|date=2017-05-15|work=Newsweek|access-date=2017-12-26|language=en}}</ref>{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}}, [[VGTRK]] (channels: [[Rossiya 1]], [[Rossiya 2]], [[Rossiya K]], [[Rossiya 24]], [[Carousel (TV channel)|Carousel]] (together with Channel One)), [[TV Tsentr]] (it is owned by the administration of the city of [[Moscow]]), [[Telekanal Zvezda]] (owner [[Ministry of Defence (Russia)|Ministry of Defence]]) and TV-Novosti ([[RT (TV network)|RT]] channel in English, [[Rusiya Al-Yaum]] channel in Arabic, [[RT America]] channel based in [[Washington, D.C.]], United States in English, RT Actualidad channel in Spanish, [[RT Documentary]] channel in Russian).

==Internet==
{{main|Internet in Russia}}
Broadband internet access is becoming more readily available in Russia, and as a result the internet is growing as an avenue for Russian commerce, with 42% of internet users in Russia shopping online, and 38% using online banking services.<ref>“Интернет-услуги в России”, GfK Press Release, March 2010</ref><ref>“Rossotto, Carlo Maria; Gelvanovska, Natalija; Hohlov, Yuri; Maciule, Vaiva; Shaposhnik, Sergei. 2015. Broadband in Russia. World Bank, Washington, DC. © World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/21709 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”</ref>

===IPTV===
The IPTV developing fast as a cheap alternative to regular television. In July 2011, Rostelecom started a plan to unify IPTV services in Russia's regions offering standard features such as linear and on-demand TV along with new interactive and OTT services provided by the operator to various mobile devices. For this Russian company SmartLabs was chosen.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.iptv-news.com/iptv_news/july_2011/rostelecom_selects_smartlabs_for_large-scale_iptv_rollout| title = Rostelecom selects SmartLabs for large-scale IPTV rollout}}</ref>

'''Country code top-level domain:''' RU (Also SU – left from Soviet Union)

==International connection==
Russia is connected internationally by three undersea fiber-optic cables; digital switches in several cities provide more than 50,000 lines for international calls; satellite earth stations provide access to [[Intelsat]], [[Intersputnik]], [[Eutelsat]], [[Inmarsat]], and [[Orbita (TV system)|Orbita]]. Rostelecom set up international fiber-optic communication lines providing access to Finland, Turkey, Italy, Bulgaria, Japan, China, Estonia, Latvia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Belarus. The company's international points of presence are in Stockholm, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and London. Russia due to its connections to Europe and Asia offers high-speed transit services from Europe to Asia via the Russian territory. international digital transit telephone network of Rostelecom is based on ten international transit and communication centers and six combined communication centers. The total installed capacity of the zonal network by the end of 2011 constituted 1,100,600 channels. The level of international communication centers digitalization constituted 100%.

In May 2006, [[Rostelecom]] launched a new fiber-optic data transmission line linking Russia's Far Eastern cities of [[Belogorsk, Amur Oblast|Belogorsk]] and [[Blagoveshchensk]] with the Chinese city of [[Heihe]] on the [[People's Republic of China–Russia border|Chinese-Russian border]].<ref>Rostelecom, China Telecom sign cooperation memorandum, 2006/7/4 10:10, CII4</ref> In May 2006 TransTeleCom Company and North Korea's Ministry of Communications have signed an agreement for the construction and joint operation of a fiber-optic transmission line (FOTL) in the section of the [[Khasan (urban-type settlement)|Khasan]]–[[Tumangang]] railway checkpoint. This is the first direct land link between Russia and North Korea. TTC's partner in the design, construction, and connection of the communication line from the Korean side to the junction was Korea Communication Company of North Korea's Ministry of Communications. The technology transfer was built around [[STM-1]] level digital equipment with the possibility of further increasing [[Bandwidth (signal processing)|bandwidth]]. The construction was completed in 2007.<ref>TransTeleCom is to build first land link with North Korea</ref>

In 2011, Rostelecom came to an agreement with Mongolian operator [[Mobicom Corporation|Mobicom]] aimed at establishing a [[Mongolia–Russia border|Russia-Mongolia border-crossing]] transmission line and at providing telecommunications services. It also opened a new international Kaliningrad-Poland transmission line through the [[Poland–Russia border]] to optimize costs when providing services to end users and operators in Kaliningrad.

In February 2012, the national operator Rostelecom has selected TeliaSonera International Carrier to operate and manage its new [[backbone network]] between [[Kingisepp]], Russia and [[Stockholm]]. The next-generation managed optical network provides connectivity between the cable landing points of the Baltic Cable System, Kingisepp and [[Kotka]], implemented over [[TeliaSonera]] International Carrier's wholly owned fibre-optic infrastructure to Stockholm.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telecompaper.com/news/rostelecom-picks-tic-to-manage-new-russia-europe-link|title=Rostelecom picks TIC to manage new Russia-Europe link|access-date=15 June 2016}}</ref>

In September 2013, EPEG International Cable System, of which Russia is a member, became in commercial use. Main line connects [[Western Europe]] and the Middle East through Russia. The line, connecting [[Frankfurt]] across [[Eastern Europe]], Russia, [[Azerbaijan]], [[Iran]] and the [[Persian Gulf]] to the capital of the [[Oman]], [[Muscat, Oman|Muscat]], has an initial capacity of 540 gigabits per second. The total length of the new cable system amounted to about 10,000 kilometers, and design capacity is up to 3.2 terabits per second. Vodafone organized a main line connecting Europe with Ukraine to the [[Borders of Russia|border]] with Russia. From the [[Russia-ukraine border|Russian-Ukrainian border]] to the border with Azerbaijan and through Azerbaijan to the borders with Iran the line was built by Rostelecom together with the Azerbaijani partner [[Delta Telecom]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.trend.az/regions/scaucasus/azerbaijan/2188782.html|title=EPEG International Cable System in commercial use|date=12 September 2013|access-date=15 June 2016}}</ref>

In 2015, Transarctic Russian optical cable system (ROTAX) will be completed. The fiber optical cable a pass route from  [[Bude]] (UK) through [[Murmansk]], [[Anadyr (town)|Anadyr]] and [[Vladivostok]] in Russia and finish at [[Tokyo]]. The total length of the cable system will be about 16,000&nbsp;km with capacity of the system is 60&nbsp;Tbit/s. The project was initiated ROTAX is JSC "Polarnet Project", and is being built by [[Tyco Electronic Subcom]].<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.comnews.ru/node/79610|title ="Ростелеком" готовится к погружению| work =comnews.ru| access-date = 7 December 2013}}</ref>

==Fiber optical infrastructure==
In late 2012, Russia's leading telecom companies [[Rostelecom]], [[MTS (telecommunications)|MTS]], [[PJSC Vimpelcom]] and [[Megafon]] signed memorandum to jointly build and operate submarine-laid fiber optic cable to connect between town of [[Okha, Russia|Okha]] on [[Sakhalin]] Island with the mainland towns of [[Magadan]] and [[Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky]]. Capacity of the underwater cable will amount to 8 [[Tbit/s]] (80*100 [[Gbit/s]]) with the total length of lines around 2,000&nbsp;km.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://subseaworldnews.com/2012/05/15/russia-to-get-submarine-fiber-optic-cable-in-far-east/| title =Russia to Get Submarine Fiber-Optic Cable in Far East
| work =Subsea World News| date =15 May 2012
| access-date = 22 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.comnews.ru/node/63986| title ="Большая четверка" уйдет под воду + | work =Subsea World News| access-date = 22 November 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.comnews.ru/node/79610| title ="Ростелеком" готовится к погружению |work =comnews.ru| access-date = 7 December 2013}}</ref>

At the end of 2013, Rostelecom completed to deploy the [[Tynda]] - [[Yakutsk]] fiber line which according to the company provides [[Redundant topologies|network redundancy]], optimizing traffic and increase trunk in areas [[Tynda]] - [[Skovorodino, Amur Oblast|Skovorodino]] - [[Khabarovsk]].<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.comnews.ru/node/77815|title ="Ростелеком" достроит магистральный канал Тында-Якутск до конца года| work =comnews.ru| access-date = 16 November 2013}}</ref> The 1,056-km, 80 Gbit/s link is based on DWDM technology. Its capacity can be expanded to 3.2&nbsp;Tbit/s in future. The new backbone increased the capacity of telecommunications links in Yakutsk, Aldan and Neryungri, as well as Nizhny-Bestyakh, Kachikatsy, Nizhny-Kuranakh, Bolshoy-Khatymi and Yengra.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://www.telecompaper.com/news/rostelecom-launches-fibre-backbone-in-sakha--995987|title =Rostelecom launches fibre backbone in Sakha| work =Telecompapaer|date=13 February 2014| access-date = 14 February 2014}}</ref>

==Emergency calls==
In December 2010, then [[President of Russia|President]] [[Dmitry Medvedev]] signed a [[Decree of the President of Russia|presidential decree]] enabling the implementation of a single number, 112, for emergency services in all the regions of Russia. Transition to the new emergency number will be gradual; it is envisaged that 112 will replace the previous emergency numbers 01, 02, 03 and 04 by 2017. In December 2012, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law establishing the single emergency service number 112 throughout the country.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://ria.ru/society/20131122/979048711.html#ixzz2m9ySjpft| title =Госдума приняла закон о бесплатном номере вызова экстренных служб| work =[[RIA Novosti]]| date =22 November 2013| access-date = 30 November 2013}}</ref> In a press conference in December 2013, Minister of Emergency Situations [[Vladimir Puchkov]] said that the unified system will be running in a full pilot mode from 2014 and will fully enter to operational mode in 2016.<ref>{{cite web| url =http://tasstelecom.ru/news/one/26703| title =ТАСС-Телеком Система единого вызова экстренных служб "112" полностью заработает в России в 2016 году — Пучков| work =Tass Telecom| access-date =27 December 2013| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131228050328/http://tasstelecom.ru/news/one/26703| archive-date =28 December 2013}}</ref>

==Statistics==
'''Percentage (%) of enterprises using selected hardware and ICT services in Russia, 2004-2010'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! '''Year'''
|  2004  ||  2005  ||  2006  ||  2007  ||  2008  ||  2009  ||  2010
|-
! style="width:240px;"| '''Personal computer (PC)'''
| 87.6 || 91.1 || 93.3 || 93.3 || 93.7 || 93.7 || 93.8
|-
! style="width:240px;"| '''Local Area Network (LAN)'''
| 49.7 || 52.4 || 57.0 || 56.4 || 59.3 || 60.4 || 68.4
|-
! style="width:240px;"| '''Internet access'''
| 48.8 || 53.3 || 61.3 || 73.7 || 73.7 || 78.3 || 82.4
|-
! style="width:240px;"| '''Broadband access'''
| - || - || - || 31.0 || 39.2 || 47.3 || 56.7
|-
! style="width:240px;"| '''Intranet'''
| - || - || 8.6 || 9.3 || 10.8 || 11.8 || 13.1
|-
! style="width:240px;"| '''Website'''
| 14.3 || 14.8 || 21.1 || 19.8 || 22.8 || 24.1 || 28.5
|}

'''Key data on the telecommunications and ICT market in Russia, 2004-2011'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="width:260px;"| '''Year'''
| 2004 || 2005 || 2006 || 2007 || 2008 || 2009 || 2010 || 2011e
|-
! style="width:260px;"| '''Telecommunications market value (€ bn)'''
| 12.9 || 16.0 || 20.9 || 25.0 || 27.5 || 24.4 || 28.5 || 30.6
|-
! style="width:260px;"| '''Telecommunications market growth rate (%)'''
| 32.0 || 23.5 || 30.6 || 20.2 || 10.0 || -11.4 || 17.1 || 7.3
|-
! style="width:260px;"| '''ICT market value (€ bn)'''
| 19.8 || 25.0 || 31.6 || 39.1 || 42.3 || 34.0 || 41.3 || 46.4
|-
! style="width:260px;"| '''ICT market growth rate (%)'''
| - || 26.3 || 26.4 || 23.7 || 8.2 || -19.6 || 21.5 || 12.3
|}
''e - estimate''

==See also==
{{portal|Telephones|Russia}}
* [[Media of Russia]]
* [[Svyazinvest]]
* [[Transport in Russia]]
* [[Federal Agency on Press and Mass Communications of Russia]]
* [[List of mobile network operators of Europe#Russia]]
* [[Mobile phone industry in Ukraine]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Russian mobile phone companies}}
{{Television in Russia}}
{{Economy of Russia}}
{{Russia topics}}
{{Telecommunications}}
{{Telecommunications in Europe}}
{{Asia topic|Communications in}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Telecommunications In Russia}}
[[Category:Telecommunications in Russia| ]]
[[Category:Mobile phone industry by country|Russia]]