OREANDA-NEWS. April 12, 2007. Following the results of the first quarter of 2007 the number of Sibirtelecom OJSC mobile subscribers has reached the number of 3,4 mln. In 2007 the subscriber base grew by 8,9% or 276,3 thousand subscribers in comparison with the results of 2006, reported the press-centre of Sibirtelecom OJSC.
Cellular business of Sibirtelecom OJSC continues showing high growth dynamics of the subscriber base. During a year, in the period from April 01, 2006 to April 01, 2007, the subscriber base showed an increase of 1 mln 183 thousand subscribers, i.e. 52,9%.
The largest subscriber growth dynamics during the period from April 01, 2006 to April 01, 2007 was shown by Baykalwestcom CJSC in Irkutsk region – 568,2 thousand subscribers or 67,1%. Yeniseytelecom CJSC in Krasnoyarsk region and the Republic of Khakassia attracted more than 387 thousand new subscribers, the growth dynamics was 37,7%. Cellular business in the Republic of Buryatia showed an increase of 150.8 thousand subscribers or 55,4%.
At present, Sibirtelecom OJSC cellular networks in GSM-900/1800 standards cover 7 regions and as of April 1, 2007 serve:
1 mln 437 ths. subscribers in Krasnoyarsk region and the Republic of Khakassia;
1 mln 415 ths. subscribers in Irkutsk region;
427 ths. subscribers in the Republic of Buryatia;
94 ths. subscribers in Kemerovo region;
52 ths. subscribers in the Republic of Altai and Altai region.
More than 17 ths. subscribers of Tomsk, Irkutsk and Krasnoyarsk regions are served in IMT-MC-450 (CDMA 2000 1x) standard under Wellcom trademark.
The market share of cellular business of Sibirtelecom OJSC at the end of 2006 in the Siberian Federal District according to the incomes was 23%, and according to the number of subscribers was more than 17%. The market share on the license area according to the number of GSM subscribers is 27,5%.
The plans of the company concerning the development of Sibirtelecom OJSC cellular business provide programmes on development of subscriber’s loyalty, extension of range of additional services, extension of GSM network in the Republic of Altai, increase of coverage area of CDMA network and organization of fragments of convergent networks for the provision of new range of services of fixed-line and cellular telephony. The volume of the planned investments into mobile telephony in 2007 is about USD 180 mln.
During 2007 Sibirtelecom OJSC plans to increase the subscriber base up to 4 mln subscribers.