Below you may download the December and year-end 2005 subscriber figures on Russian and Ukrainian cellular markets. Please note that we have slightly downgraded our November 2004 estmates for total number of subscribers in Russia and upgraded Astelit's (Ukraine) figures for November.

Main highlights for both covered markets:

Russia

MTS remains market leader but the margin between MTS and Vimpelcom narrows. Although Russian operators added significant 6.2 mln new subs to the counter in December, there is a visible slowdown in Y-o-Y market growth rate - there were 8.3 mln net additions reported in December 2004. 2005 was the last year of record-high growth rates as the level of saturation closes in in the major part of the country's regions. Other key points:

• Number of subscribers (valid SIM cards) reached 125.8 mln (up 6.2 mln from November 2005, 51.4 mln from December 2004);
• Penetration jumped to 86.6% (up 4.3% from November 2005, 35.4% from December 2004);
• There were 135 and 118 SIM cards in use per 100 population in Moscow and St.Petersburg respectively as of December 31, 2005;
• MTS won December net additons in the regions and generally in Russia, losing to Vimpelcom in Moscow and St.Petersburg.

Russian Mobile Subscribers

* Please note that penetration figures are calculated based on official data from 2002 population census (145 mln for Russia, 17 mln for Moscow and 6.3 mln for St.Pete). Reportedly, the population in Moscow License Area reaches as high as 23-25 mln while St.Pete License Area population figure is above 7 mln.

Ukraine

Total number of subscribers in Ukraine almost doubled in 2005. Kyivstar and UMC remain very close rivals with Astelit lagging behind by a margin. Leaders were almost on par in December net additions, though UMC managed to attract a bit larger share of users.

• Number of subscribers (valid SIM cards) reached 30.4 mln (up 3.6 mln from November 2005, 16.5 mln from December 2004);
• Penetration increased to 63.8% (up 7.5% from November 2005, 34.6% from December 2004);

Ukrainian Mobile Subscribers

Our estimates for Astelit show significant market share gain in 2005 (9% as of December). However, considering quite liberal churn policy adopted by the company we maintain strong scepticism about the ability of all those subscribers to generate a reasonable revenue for Astelit.

Russia

Number of subscribers (valid SIM cards) reached 120 mln, up 4 mln from October 2005, 45 mln from December 2004 and 54 mln from November 2004. Other key points are:

• Penetration in Russia grew to 83% (up 3% from October 2005, 31% from December 2004, 37% from November 2004);
• There were 131 and 115 SIM cards in use per 100 population in Moscow and St.Petersburg respectively as of November 30, 2005;
• In November 2005 Vimpelcom won back the leadership from MTS in net additions in Moscow, St.Petersburg and total Russia.

Russian Mobile Subscribers

* Please note that penetration figures are calculated based on official data from 2002 population census (17 mln for Moscow and 6.3 mln for St.Pete). Reportedly, the population in Moscow License Area reaches as high as 23-25 mln while St.Pete License Area population figure is above 7 mln.

Ukraine

Total number of subscribers reached 26,360,539 which translates into cellular penetration of 55.4%. Kyivstar showed good results in November outnumbering its main rival, UMC.

Please note that Astelit has more liberal churn policy (12 months) compared to other operators and still did not churn subcribers since its network launch. You may find more information in the file below.