MOSCOW, January 17 (RIA Novosti) - The number of mobile telephone subscribers in Russia jumped some 70% higher in 2005, helping send revenues from mobile services 33% higher year-on-year, to $10.5 billion, consulting companies said Tuesday.
The total number of Russian subscribers - calculated by the number of valid SIM cards in the country - rose by 51.8 million to reach 125.8 million by December 31, independent market research company Advanced Communications & Media (ACM) said.
Mobile phone penetration in Russia - calculated by the number of valid SIM cards per 100 people - reached 86.6%, a 35.4% increase on year, with the figures for penetration standing at 135% and 118% for Moscow and St. Petersburg, respectively, and 78.3% for the rest of Russia.
Mobile operator Mobile TeleSystems, or MTS, retained its long-established supremacy in Russia as a whole, but lost its lead in Moscow and St. Petersburg to VimpelCom, ACM said.
Telecoms consulting company iKS-Consulting meanwhile said revenues from Russian cellular communications services in 2005 increased by 33% to $10.5 billion, with Russian regions outside the Moscow license zone accounting for 67% of the growth. But the ARPU figure - the average monthly revenue generated from each customer unit, such as a phone or pager - dropped by 27% from 2004 to $8.70.
