3G Services Getting Cheaper

Source: http://www.vedomosti.ru/, September 8 2009

Mobile Internet operators started lowering their prices. Soon prices of 3G access will compete with prices on traditional communications.

Sky Link, the first mobile operator to launch 3G in St. Petersburg, last week initiated campaign Unlimit for Halfprice. For subscribers, subscribing to the operator’s 3G services in September-October 2009, subscription fee is lowered by 50% to 395 rubles per month. In August, 2009 the share of unlimited tariff subscriptions comprised 20% of all Internet tariff subscriptions. During the campaign this share is expected to grow to 40-50%, says Commercial Director of Sky Link – North-West, Maksim Chernyak.

From October 10, 2009 Beeline increases the volume of permitted traffic in unlimited tariff from 1 to 2Gb (695 rubles per month). After reaching this volume speed of Internet connection drops down to 64 Kb/sec.

August 31, 2009 MTS, the only Big Trio operator which does not have unlimited tariff yet, offered a package of 3Gb for 799 rubles, after this limit is reached 1 Mb costs 24 kopeks. For most MTS subscribers package of 1000 Mb is enough, in Petersburg mobile Internet is usually used as addition to fixed access and WiFi, announces MTS press service.

In August, 2009 MegaFon introduced unlimited tariff (699 rubles per month) and, according to Director of MegaFon North-West, Aleksandra Makarova, not planning to lower its prices in foreseeable future. The operator plans to compete with other players of Russian mobile market by offering extended services and faster speeds. According to Mrs. Makarova, the operator already has 10 000 subscribers of unlimited tariff. 140 000 USB modems were sold already in Petersburg. The rest of mobile operators do not disclose the number of modems sold by them.