Russia's mobile penetration, at an estimated 165 subscribers per 100 population in 2013, is high. The Economist Intelligence Unit forecasts that the number of mobile subscribers will grow at a modest annual average rate of 3% in 2015-19, reflecting market saturation. Penetration is forecast to reach around 200% in 2019. This is high in an international comparison (above the level of South Korea and the US, for example). This may reflect that fact that many users have more than one subscriber identity module (SIM) card in order to take advantage of various offers, and the high level of ownership of multiple devices.
Take-up of third-generation (3© and fourth-generation (4G) enabled devices has been rapid. According to a business daily, Vedomosti, drawing on research by a mobile handset retailer, Svaznoi, in the first nine months of 2014, 2.1m smartphones enabled for long-term evolution (LTE) networks were sold, a 105% increase on last year. Revenue from their sales has risen 80%. LTE-enabled smartphones account for more than one-third of all smartphones sold. The share of customers using 4G smartphones increased from 3% to 13% in January-September year on year, and the revenue from these from 7% to 34%. In Moscow, the capital, usage of LTE-enabled phones increased by 150% year on year in 2014, according to local authorities. This is partly because of a sharp fall in the cost of 4G phones.
International sanctions are likely to have an impact on smartphone consumption. Sales of high-end smartphones boomed in October-December 2014, as local prices had not yet adjusted to the depreciation of the rouble against the US dollar. Prices have now risen significantly, however. As the economy continues to slow (we forecast a contraction of 3.5% this year) demand for smartphones will weaken significantly, particularly for more expensive models. However, the availability of a range of cheaper smartphones means that the shift of consumers to 3G and 4G networks is likely to continue. In the first half of 2014 the average price of a smartphone was estimated to have fallen by 20% year on year.

Telecommunications report 5

Mobile 5

Fixed 8

Internet 9

Industry publishing schedule 11

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