Market News
Moscow Cellular Penetration is Over 100%
We estimate total number of Russian cellular customers at 78.26 mln as of January 31, 2004. Net additions in Russia were 3.9 mln, 55% decrease compared to December 2004 and 44% increase compared to January 2004.
Russian Mobile Subscribers
| Mobile Subscribers | January 31, 2005 | December 31, 2004 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Russia | 78,260,000 | 73,855,000 |
| Penetration | 53.9% | 50.9% |
| Moscow | 17,617,682 | 16,854,605 |
| Penetration | 103.7% | 99.2% |
| St.Petersburg | 5,797,703 | 5,644,334 |
| Penetration | 91.4% | 89.0% |
| Subscribers outside Moscow and St.Pete | 54,844,615 | 51,356,061 |
| Penetration | 45.0% | 42.1% |
Please note that we have revised upward our December 2004 figure due to more detailed information available.
Russian Cellular | Russian Net Additions, |
Top 10 Mobile Operators
| # | Company | January 31, 2005 | December 31, 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MTS | 37,220,000 | 35,395,000 |
Moscow | 7,800,000 | 7,470,000 | |
Ukraine (UMC) | 7,730,000 | 7,400,000 | |
Belarus | 1,270,000 | 1,215,000 | |
Uzbekistan | 320,000 | 310,000 | |
| 2 | Vimpelcom | 28,245,000 | 26,550,000 |
Moscow | 7,775,000 | 7,475,000 | |
Kazakhstan | 995,000 | 859,000 | |
| 3 | MegaFon | 14,153,090 | 13,647,807 |
Moscow | 1,941,776 | 1,817,314 | |
Tajikistan | 48,624 | 47,891 | |
| 4 | Uralsvyazinform | 2,167,800 | 2,058,100 |
| 5 | SMARTS Group | 1,905,100 | 1,815,000 |
| 6 | Sibirtelecom | 1,029,742 | 1,001,900 |
| 7 | N.Novgorod Cellular | 725,000 | 656,441 |
| 8 | Ekaterinburg Cellular Communications - MOTIV | 440,000 | 405,467 |
| 9 | New Telephone Company | 280,810 | 262,205 |
| 10 | Skylink | 196,000 | 190,200 |
Moscow and St.Petersburg
Moscow License Area
MTS keeps the leading position in Moscow with Vimpelcom running very closely behind. MegaFon's market share remained stable at 11%.
Moscow Market Breakdown | Net Additions in Moscow, |
St.Petersburg and Leningrad Region
In January 2004 Vimpelcom attracted the largest number of customers in St.Petersburg and in the regions outside the capitals.
St. Petersburg Market Breakdown | Net Additions in St.Petersburg |
Regions outside Moscow and St.Pete
Regional Market Breakdown | Regional Net Additions |
December 2004 Subscriptions Beat Expectations
According to our esimates the total number of cellular subscribers in Russia reached 73.9 mln as of year-end 2004!
Russian Mobile Subscribers
| Mobile Subscribers | December 31, 2004 | November 30, 2004 | December 31, 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Russia | 73,855,000 | 65,590,000 | 36,230,000 |
| Penetration | 50.9% | 45.2% | 25.0% |
| Moscow | 16,854,605 | 15,105,908 | 11,487,308 |
| Penetration | 99.2% | 92.1% | 67.6% |
| St.Petersburg | 5,644,334 | 5,313,694 | 3,532,859 |
| Penetration | 89.0% | 83.8% | 55.7% |
| Subscribers outside Moscow and St.Pete | 51,356,061 | 44,641,478 | 21,209,833 |
| Penetration | 42.1% | 36.6% | 17.4% |
Russian Cellular | Russian Net Additions, |
Top 10 Mobile Operators
| # | Company | December 31, 2004 | November 30, 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MTS | 35,395,000 | 30,595,000 |
Moscow | 7,470,000 | 6,985,000 | |
Ukraine (UMC) | 7,400,000 | 6,266,000 | |
Belarus | 1,215,000 | 1,100,000 | |
Uzbekistan | 310,000 | 287,000 | |
| 2 | Vimpelcom | 26,550,000 | 23,160,000 |
Moscow | 7,475,000 | 6,960,000 | |
Kazakhstan | 859,000 | 745,000 | |
| 3 | MegaFon | 13,647,807 | 12,756,890 |
Moscow | 1,817,314 | 1,603,751 | |
Tajikistan | 47,891 | 38,817 | |
| 4 | Uralsvyazinform | 2,058,100 | 1,937,300 |
| 5 | SMARTS Group | 1,815,000 | 1,690,640 |
| 6 | Sibirtelecom | 1,001,900 | 861,600 |
| 7 | N.Novgorod Cellular | 656,441 | 596,945 |
| 8 | Ekaterinburg Cellular Communications - MOTIV | 405,467 | 354,572 |
| 9 | New Telephone Company | 262,205 | 236,800 |
| 10 | Skylink | 190,200 | 189,000 |
Note: Although Tele2 has approximately 1.05 mln subscribers in Russia we do not list the company in the Top-10 table as the company does not provide officially confirmed figures for its Russian branch. Nevertheless, we do account our Tele2 subscriber estimates in Russia total numbers.
Moscow and St.Petersburg
Moscow License Area
The penetration in the Russian largest market - Moscow - was 99.2% (!) as of 31-Dec-04 (68% in 2003). With both MTS and Vimpelcom signing almost equal number of subscribers, the latter did slightly better and re-gained leadership in the capital. MegaFon's contribution to the Christmas sale campaign in Moscow was 18% or 215 thsd subscribers.
Moscow Market Breakdown | Net Additions in Moscow, |
St.Petersburg and Leningrad Region
MTS led in subscriber addition race in St.Petersburg signing up record high 131 thsd users. Vimpelcom came second with 117 thsd which is also a record high net adds for the company in