Mobile Telesystems Ojsc (MBT)

[MadeIt]

Russian May Mobile Phone Subs Up 2.3 Million To 195.1 Million - Survey





MOSCOW -(Dow Jones)- The number of Russian mobile phone subscriptions rose 2.3 million in May to 195.1 million, consultants Advanced Communications & Media said Tuesday.

Russia's largest operator OAO Mobile TeleSystems (MBT) took 40% of the new subscribers, a reversal of the recent trend which has shown OAO Vimpel Communications (VIP) gaining after buying half of the country's largest mobile phone retailer.

Penetration, or the number of valid SIM cards for each 100 people, rose to 134.4% in May from 132.8% in April.

AC&M gave the following breakdown of the largest operators' subscriber details for Russia. The figures don't include subscribers of MTS, VimpelCom and MegaFon elsewhere in the former Soviet Union.

Operator May April On Month
MTS 66.469 mln 65.677 mln +792,000
Vimpelcom 50.123 mln 49.978 mln +146,000
MegaFon 44.608 mln 44.045 mln +563,000
Tele2 10.950 mln 10.775 mln +175,000
Uralsvyazinform 5.950 mln 5.879 mln +71,000

AC&M Web site: www.acm-consulting.com

-By Will Bland, Dow Jones Newswires; [phone]; [e-mail]