Tag: Visual edit |
(→General: new introduction, providers will be edited shortly) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | ==General== |
+ | =='''General'''== |
| + | ''In the Russian Federation some special rules for mobile phones apply. You should check them first to avoid frustration. Basically, you can't expect anyone to speak English in this country. So you might print out the offer in Russian before to show what you want.'' |
||
| − | First, you will need to present your passport to get a SIM card. A foreign passport will usually work, but some vendors will only know how to deal with a Russian passport. Second, due to the frequent changes in local telcos' plans it takes time to find what you need. Really unlimited deals are not easy to find - there are all sorts of limitations in small print. Visit the offices of all 3 major providers - MTS, BeeLine and MegaFon - to pick up the fliers and check what is available. Very often a 3G modem included in the package. |
||
| + | ===='''Basics'''==== |
||
| − | Another option is buying a SIM card in a kiosk at a subway entrance. That usually costs 100 rub and some of that appears as a credit on the account. No ID required, these cards are pre-activated to someone's (possibly fictional) name. The worst that can happen - the card turns out to be blocked and you loose your 100 rub (~$3). Usually it's okay though. |
||
| + | It's next to impossible to show all prices for Russia, because their pricing is immensely complex. The Russian Federation consists of 81 "federal subjects" which can be provinces, territories, federal cities or other districs and are called regions in this article. For every region even the same provider has different prices. So we only give it here for the '''Moscow''' region (and St. Petersburg for Tele2). They are the highest in the country, in other areas you can expect to pay a little less. |
||
| + | Living in this huge country, the residents have mostly more than one SIM card. Like in the US, every SIM is locked to a specified provider and region too. All calls, text and even data traffic made outside of this region lead to domestic roaming surcharges even within the same provider. So to try buy a SIM card at the place, where you are going to use it most. |
||
| − | As of March, 2011, Megafon gives the best internet speeds and 3G coverage in Moscow. |
||
| + | The complicated dialling of phone numbers within Russia is explained in detail in this [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_numbers_in_Russia WIKI]. For data, you can skip these rules, but be aware that there a two kinds of data packages: "domestic", valid only within the specified region of your SIM card leading to surcharges outside and "national" valid all over the federation. |
||
| − | In Moscow as of February 2, 2014 is also available LTE (Megafon, Beeline, MTS) but phone have to support local LTE bands. |
||
| + | ===='''Networks'''==== |
||
| + | Russia uses European frequencies throughout its country: 2G is on 900 and 1800 Mhz, 3G (up to HSPA+) on 900 and 2100 Mhz mainly in the cities and 4G/LTE on 800 and 2600 Mhz started in 2012/3 on all operators and is available for prepaid without surcharges in the major towns. |
||
| + | |||
| + | There are 4 national mobile operators active in Russia: |
||
| + | *'''Megafon''' (МегаФон) |
||
| + | *'''MTS''' (MTC) |
||
| + | *'''Beeline''' (by VipelCom) |
||
| + | *'''Tele 2''' (joint venture with Rostelecom) |
||
| + | '''Megafon''' has the best nationwide coverage and good speeds in the cities at the highest prices. It is consided by many as the premier network in the country and the only to cover all 83 regions. '''MTS''' is at the present the biggest operator with more than 100 million customers and licenses in 81 regions of the country. '''Beeline''' is the budget operator with the lowest rates active in 78 regions nationwide. '''Tele2''' and Rostelecom are building a forth network active in 41 regions only (not in Moscow) and merged into a joint venture in 2014. |
||
==Beeline== |
==Beeline== |
||
Revision as of 13:21, 13 September 2014
General
In the Russian Federation some special rules for mobile phones apply. You should check them first to avoid frustration. Basically, you can't expect anyone to speak English in this country. So you might print out the offer in Russian before to show what you want.
Basics
It's next to impossible to show all prices for Russia, because their pricing is immensely complex. The Russian Federation consists of 81 "federal subjects" which can be provinces, territories, federal cities or other districs and are called regions in this article. For every region even the same provider has different prices. So we only give it here for the Moscow region (and St. Petersburg for Tele2). They are the highest in the country, in other areas you can expect to pay a little less.
Living in this huge country, the residents have mostly more than one SIM card. Like in the US, every SIM is locked to a specified provider and region too. All calls, text and even data traffic made outside of this region lead to domestic roaming surcharges even within the same provider. So to try buy a SIM card at the place, where you are going to use it most.
The complicated dialling of phone numbers within Russia is explained in detail in this WIKI. For data, you can skip these rules, but be aware that there a two kinds of data packages: "domestic", valid only within the specified region of your SIM card leading to surcharges outside and "national" valid all over the federation.
Networks
Russia uses European frequencies throughout its country: 2G is on 900 and 1800 Mhz, 3G (up to HSPA+) on 900 and 2100 Mhz mainly in the cities and 4G/LTE on 800 and 2600 Mhz started in 2012/3 on all operators and is available for prepaid without surcharges in the major towns.
There are 4 national mobile operators active in Russia:
- Megafon (МегаФон)
- MTS (MTC)
- Beeline (by VipelCom)
- Tele 2 (joint venture with Rostelecom)
Megafon has the best nationwide coverage and good speeds in the cities at the highest prices. It is consided by many as the premier network in the country and the only to cover all 83 regions. MTS is at the present the biggest operator with more than 100 million customers and licenses in 81 regions of the country. Beeline is the budget operator with the lowest rates active in 78 regions nationwide. Tele2 and Rostelecom are building a forth network active in 41 regions only (not in Moscow) and merged into a joint venture in 2014.
Beeline
-1-.jpg){kind=link}
Beeline offers unlimited internet for 295 Roubles.
Just get any prepaid SIM card (you can buy it at any Cell Shops, which are plenty at big cities, names are Euroset, Sviaznoy and other). Ask for a SIM without prepaid data or calls. Add money to a prepaid card (you can do it at very convinient value adding machines, they are everywhere and even have english interface).
Then ask to turn on unlimited internet for 295 roubles. It will operate at home city only (I.e. Moscow if you buy in Moscow, Petersburg for Petersburg), and is valid for one month. At other cities there will be quite cheap home-network roaming (around 8 roubles per megabyte).
Plan "Go!" offers 3G (up to 2Mbps) and EDGE. (iPhone and android is suitable, and thethring is allowed)
First 500MB ar at 2Mbps speed, and after that the speed drops to 64kbps.
MTS Rus
GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA
Web site (Rus): http://www.mts.ru/
Web Site (Eng): http://www.mtsgsm.com/
Unlimited Data Pack (БИТ, BIT):
Description (Rus): http://www.mts.ru/services/internet/bit/
APN: internet.mts.ru
Cost: 199 Rub/month, for tariff plan Ultra - 0 Rub/month
To activate dial *111*995#
Region: Central (Moscow, Moscow region etc)
Limitations: when daily traffic exceeds 50Mb, data speed reduces to 64Kb/sec until the end of the day.
Valid only for subscribers in Moscow and Moscow region
Unlimited Data Pack - whole Russia (СуперБИТ, SuperBIT):
Description (Rus): http://www.mts.ru/services/internet/bit/
APN: internet.mts.ru
Cost: 250 Rub/month (March 2014)
To activate dial *111*628#
Region: Russia
Limitations: when daily traffic exceeds 100Mb, data speed reduces to 128Kb/sec until the end of current day.
Valid in any Russian region whereever you bought the SIM.
Data Feature Packs:
The operator, have some prepaid datapacks on your portifolio:
200mb (for 30 days): 450 Rub
300mb (for 30 days): 600 Rub
450mb (for 30 days): 800 Rub.
Unlimited internet at Night (30 days) - Happy hour time with unlimited traffic quota from 1:00 am to 8:00: 450,00 rub
Excess and oddpack:
3.45 Rub/mb - From 12:00am to 08:00am
8.45 Rub/mb - From 8:00am to 12:00am
Max speed: Up to 8mbps.
Other information:
Off-net and fixed landline:
1-5 minutes of call on day: 3,95 Rub/min
From 6 min on: 0,19 Rub/min
On-Net: 1-5 minutes of call on day: 3,95 Rub/min
From 6 min on: 0,17 Rub/min Do not forget to turn off Push Messages in your Message settings. Otherwise you would be non-stop bothered with commercial offers.
Avaliability:
In some shops and MTS kiosks.
Teethering:
(Officialy) Allowed for the almost dataplans (excluding some post-paid dataplans).
iPhone/iPad specific information:
Unavaliable.
SIM information:
- Regular Simcards avaliable
- Micro Simcards (3FF) available
Check Balance:
- 100#
Megafon (Moscow)
GPRS/EDGE/UMTS/HSDPA
Web site (Russian): http://moscow.megafon.ru/tariffs/alltariffs/
There are 3 tariff plans has no monthly fee:
O'Hard - 2.4 rub/first min of each local call (0.08$), 1.2 rub/min from second min of local call (0,04$)
Per 3 - 0.03 rub/second (0.001$)
Go to 0 - 3,5 rub/min (0.12$) from 1 to 5 min of local calls per day, 0 rub/min from 6 to 35 min of local calls per day, 1.5 rub/min (0.05$) from 35 min of local calls per day.
Availability
At a mobile shop or a Megafon office - this way you need an ID. But you can also buy an envelope containing a a pre-activated SIM card with this tariff pre-selected at a subway entrance - this way you don't need an ID, it costs around 100 Rub (same price at a mobile shop), is pre-activated and has some credit.
Internet is expensive by default (10 Rub per 1 MiB (0.30$) with outrageous rounding rules)! Use one of the following packages!
To make it cheaper you have a few options:
1. Daily pre-paid packages: BIT PRO
Speed: unlimited (64 kbit/sec after prepaid volume)
| Name |
Price per day (Rub) |
Pre-paid traffic (MB) |
Territory |
How to activate USSD |
How to deactivate USSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BIT PRO | 9.9 | 80 | Moscow area | *105*276# | *105*276*0# |
| BIT Mega PRO 150 | 14.9 | 150 | Moscow area | *105*454# | *105*454*0# |
| BIT Mega PRO 250 | 19 | 250 | Moscow area | *105*455# | *105*455*0# |
| BIT Mega PRO 500 | 29 | 500 | All | *105*456# | *105*456*0# |
2. Daily pre-paid packages: Internet for smartphone
| Name |
Price per day (Rub) |
Pre-paid traffic (MB) |
Speed | Territory |
How to activate USSD |
How to deactivate USSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet for telephone | 5 | 30 | Speed: unlimited (64 kbit/sec after prepaid volume) | Moscow area | *105*450# | *105*450*0# |
| Internet for smartphone | 10 | 70 | Speed: unlimited (64 kbit/sec after prepaid volume) | All | *105*282# | *105*282*0# |
| Internet for smartphone+4G | 20 | 100 | 10 Mbit/sec | All | *105*980# | *105*980*0# |
| Internet for smartphone PRO+4G | 30 | 200 | 20 Mbit/sec | All | *105*981# | *105*981*0# |
3. Daily pre-paid packages: For 3G/4G Modem or Tablet
| Name |
Price per day (Rub) |
Pre-paid traffic (MB) |
Speed | Territory |
How to activate USSD |
How to deactivate USSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet 24 | 24 | 200 | Speed: 3 Mbit/sec (64 kbit/sec after prepaid volume) | All | *105*264# | *105*264*0# |
| Internet 24 PRO | 150 | 1500 | Speed: 5 Mbit/sec (64 kbit/sec after prepaid volume) | All | *105*224# | *105*224*0# |
4. Monthly pre-paid packages: For 3G/4G modem or Tablet
Speed: unlimited; data is turned off after prepaid volume.
| Name |
Price per month (Rub) |
Pre-paid traffic (GB) |
Territory |
How to activate USSD |
How to deactivate USSD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Internet S | 390 | 3 | All | *236*1# | *236*1*0# |
| Internet M | 690 | 6 | All | *236*2# | *236*2*0# |
| Internet L | 990 | 10 (+10GB at night when in Moscow area) | All | *236*3# | *236*3*0# |
| Internet XL | 1290 | 20 (+20GB at night when in Moscow area) | All | *236*4# | *236*4*0# |
Updated: 01.12.2013
TELE 2
Yet another mobile operator (discounter, EDGE, 3G). Site: http://www.en.tele2.ru/ Not present in Moscow.