Russia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses
Publication Overview
This report provides a comprehensive overview of trends and developments in Russia’s telecommunications market. The report analyses the fixed-line, mobile and broadband sectors. Subjects include:
Market and industry analyses, trends and developments;
Facts, figures and statistics;
Industry and regulatory issues;
Infrastructure developments;
Major Players, Revenues, Subscribers, ARPU, MoU;
Mobile Voice and Data Markets;
Broadband (FttP, DSL, cable, wireless);
Mobile subscribers and ARPU;
Broadband market forecasts;
Government policies affecting the telecoms industry;
Market liberalisation and industry issues;
Telecoms operators – privatisation, IPOs, acquisitions, new licences;
Mobile technologies (GSM; 3G, HSPA, LTE, 5G).
Researcher:- Henry Lancaster Current publication date:- November 2018 (17th Edition)
Executive Summary
Russia sees strong growth in fibre broadband connectivity
The Russian telecom market is the largest in Europe, supported by a population of about 144 million. The market is dominated by the western regions where the main cities and economic centres are concentrated. All sectors have been liberalised, with competition most prevalent in Moscow and St Petersburg, the two largest regional markets.
Telcos continue to deploy and modernise fixed-line network infrastructure to offer improved broadband services as well as a range of IP-delivered content. The government is investing billions of Rubles in a 200,000km telecom network which will provide broadband services to thousands of underserved villages, with Rostelecom contracted to undertake and manage the work.
Russia has also emerged as one of Europe’s fastest growing markets for fibre-based broadband, with about two-thirds of Rostelecom’s fixed-line broadband subscribers being on its fibre infrastructure by late 2018.
The country also has the largest mobile market in Europe, with the number of subscriptions at about 226 million at the end of 2018. Several mobile network operators are active, although the market is dominated by four major operators (MTS, VEON, Tele2 Russia and MegaFon). These have expanded their footprints widely through the acquisition of smaller regional service providers.
Mobile SIM card penetration is high though the rate has fallen in recent quarters as customers reduce the number of SIM cards in use. This is partly a response to the poor economic climate, as also to better pricing among the MNOs which reduces the on-net call charge advantages of having SIM cards from different providers.
The extensive deployment of LTE infrastructure has supported growth opportunities through mobile broadband and data services, which make up a growing proportion of overall mobile revenue. Investments in carrier aggregation and LTE-A technologies have further boosted network capabilities, while operators are also partnering with vendors to prepare for 5G.
This report provides an overview of Russia’s fixed-line telecom and IT markets. It includes information on key regulatory developments, data on fixed-line networks, and an assessment of telcos’ financial and operating performance. The report also covers the mobile voice and data markets, including regulatory developments, the major mobile operators as well as emerging technologies. In addition the report reviews developments in the fixed and fixed-wireless broadband segments, noting the status of the cable and DSL platforms and efforts to increase the reach of fibre infrastructure.
Key developments:
RETN open a 1,195km fibre cable linking Moscow with Riga;
Ministry of Communications supporting plans for fibre link between the UK and Japan via Murmansk and Vladivostok;
Rostelecom contracted to develop telecom network offering improved services to underserved villages;
MegaFon providing 1Gb/s data rate on its LTE network;
MTS launches a Gigabit Class LTE-LAA service, launches Wi-Fi Calling service;
All four MNOs end domestic on-net roaming charges;
Rostelecom’s fibre subscriber base accounting for two-thirds of company’s total;
MTS and VEON invest RUB2 billion on 4,500km fibre infrastructure;
MegaFon reports data rates of up to 35Gb/s in 5G trials, deploys CA technology to deliver Gigabit LTE-A;
Report update includes the regulator’s market data to June 2018, telcos’ financial and operating data to Q3 2018, recent market developments.
Companies mentioned in this report:
TransTeleCom, VEON (VimpelCom), ER-Telecom, MTS, Rostelecom, PeterStar, MegaFon, Tele2 Russia, Skylink, Volga Telecom, SMARTS Group, Uralsvyazinform, Synterra Telecom, Comstar, Summa Telecom, MetroMAX, Yota, Virgin Connect, Enforta, Golden Telecom
Paul, May I congratulate you on a very successful and enjoyable afternoon with the Minister. In providing the roundtable discussions between government and industry, it highlighted the strong interest by stakeholders in Broadband and its implementation but it also presented us with other issues and opportunities that we need to address.
