The cheapest cellular communications: TOP-9 cheapest tariffs and rating of the 5 best telecom operators

Some statistics

When choosing the best operator for mobile Internet, it is useful to get acquainted with the statistics. The Radio Frequency Center of Roskomnadzor determined that the average Internet speed in Moscow is highest at MTS. The latest comprehensive market study of the capital region was carried out last year, and MTS showed a data transfer speed to the subscriber of 14.5 Mbit/s, slightly inferior to MegaFon with a result of 13.6 Mbit. Tele2 is in third place with 10.3 Mbit, and Beeline has a speed of 9.7 Mbit. But when transferring data from the subscriber, the indicators are as follows: MTS - 3.3 Mbit, Beeline and Tele2 - 2.4 Mbit, MegaFon - 2 Mbit. High data transfer speed from the subscriber is important when sending files (for example, if you send photos, videos, documents).

A year earlier, according to RKN data, the leader in speed was MegaFon, but two years ago the agency admitted, based on research, that the fastest 4G Internet in Moscow was provided by the operator Tele2. True, then, other operators attributed this not to the operator’s technical infrastructure, but to the small number of subscribers and, accordingly, low network congestion. However, over the past year, all cellular operators have significantly increased their technical capabilities, and it is possible that in the next study of the relevant department the results may be unexpected.

The second option for assessing the quality of the Internet from mobile operators is Speedtest. For the fourth year in a row, MegaFon is the leader with 24.43 Mbit per download. Next in the ranking are MTS (15.29 Mbit), Beeline (14.3 Mbit), and Tele2 (13.56 Mbit). These results from two independent studies suggest that the ratings data can be trusted, despite the minimal differences.

Vote

What would you choose or recommend?

Megaphone

14.35 % ( 60 )

MTS

13.64 % ( 57 )

Beeline

8.85 % ( 37 )

Yota

11.24 % ( 47 )

Tele 2

16.27 % ( 68 )

My conversation Tele2

7.42 % ( 31 )

My online Tele2

7.18 % ( 30 )

First gigs. Beeline

2.39 % ( 10 )

Unlim Beeline

1.44 % ( 6 )

Get involved! Write. Megaphone

1.67 % ( 7 )

Get involved! Have fun Megafon

2.39 % ( 10 )

Smart MTS

3.59 % ( 15 )

MTS tariff

4.55 % ( 19 )

How to choose the best operator for mobile Internet

Today, there are 5 cellular operators in constant competition in Moscow: Beeline, Megafon, MTS, Tele2, Yota. When choosing between them, you should consider the following criteria: speed, traffic volume and price. Speed.

In Moscow and the region, each operator has almost complete 4G and 3G network coverage.
This means that there will be a good connection to the network everywhere, and it is difficult to choose the best operator based on this criterion. Moreover, the speed can vary greatly even among subscribers of the same operator: it depends on the terrain, the development of the area, the presence of interference and other factors. Traffic volume.
Each mobile operator has a wide range of tariffs for smartphones, which are commonly called unlimited.
They include call minutes, SMS messages and Internet traffic - from 1 GB to 50 GB on tariffs for smartphones, as well as offers with unlimited data transfer. Within the quota, traffic and minutes are not charged, which is why tariffs are considered unlimited. To fully use the capabilities of the gadget (check email, watch videos online, communicate on social networks, listen to music, search for information), you need mobile traffic of 5-15 GB per month. Perhaps someone will be satisfied with a volume of 1-3 GB, and 20 GB will not be enough for movie fans, but most subscribers with smartphones fit into this range. To identify the best telecom operator with the most profitable mobile Internet, we will compare tariffs with 5-15 GB traffic and their cost.

Which connection is better: Megafon or MTS?

Comparing MTS and Megafon tariffs should begin by studying the basic parameters.

Don't worry about poor support service or insufficient technical capabilities - these indicators are at a high level. This is also confirmed by the presence of numerous positive reviews on expert forums and other authoritative resources, where each user can leave a comment. To get the final picture, we will analyze the existing TPs, their prices and characteristics.

Beeline tariffs for mobile Internet

A special feature of the operator’s new offers for smartphones is that most of them offer unlimited Internet access, and the quota is only for minimum tariffs. However, if you carefully read the terms of some archived tariffs, you will notice that unlimited in them operates on the basis of an additional option. If you disable it, then the tariff will have a traffic quota, but the price will be less, by about one hundred rubles per month (the option is paid at three rubles per day). In this traffic range, we are interested in the “SuperCITY” package tariff. In it we get 25 GB of Internet and 500 minutes of calls and 300 SMS for 550 rubles per month. The subscription fee according to the tariff is charged daily.

A special feature of Beeline’s new offers is a voice package; it can be used on all numbers in Russia - minutes on the network and on other local mobile phones, and beyond the package there is no limit within the operator’s network. The operator also has a more affordable tariff if 6 GB is enough for you for a month. “First gigs” for 450 rubles per month, in addition to package traffic, unlimited use of messengers, 200 minutes for calls within the network in Russia and other local numbers will be available.

Which is more profitable: Megafon or MTS - conclusion

By considering the basic issues, you can choose the best option for everyday use. Each operator has its own advantages and disadvantages. MTS boasts the ability to individually configure most tariffs, unlimited Internet and the best connection quality.

Megafon has a large number of different additional options and a line of profitable calls to numbers in the CIS countries and Asia. The cost of maintenance remains at approximately the same level. Preliminarily define your needs from the telecommunications company and begin reviewing the options offered in your service region.

MegaFon tariffs for mobile Internet

MegaFon has its own unique tariff line “No overpayments”. The volume of mobile Internet depends on exactly how the subscriber likes to spend time online: listening to music or surfing social networks, watching movies or only occasionally checking email, and using voice communication more. Three tariffs are suitable for our range of 5-12 gigabytes: “No overpayments. Internet” is the most popular tariff, a bestseller. It provides unlimited access to the social networks “VKontakte”, “Odnoklassniki”, Facebook, messengers, and in addition to this 20 GB of Internet for any purpose. This package costs 500 rubles per month. Unlimited calls are available within the network in Russia and 400 minutes to all mobile networks in the region in which the number is used.

#NoOverpayments Internet

Promotion

500 rub.

Subscription fee

• • 20 GB and unlimited for instant messengers and social networks
• • Unlimited to all MegaFon numbers
• • 400 minutes to local mobile numbers

500 rub.

Connection

Add to cart

“No overpayments. Calls” is another suitable tariff, designed specifically for those who actively communicate by phone. It gives unlimited access to instant messengers, and another 6 GB for any purpose. Subscription fee 600 rubles per month. For voice communications there is unlimited within the network and a package for eight hundred minutes, which is spent on all numbers of other operators in Russia.

“No overpayments. Minimum” is a new product in the line for the capital region, and represents the most affordable package offer. In the minimum configuration, unlimited to MegaFon, 300 minutes to local mobile numbers, and 6 GB of traffic for 390 rubles. If you need more Internet or minutes, you can increase the packages.

#No Overpayments Minimum

Promotion

390 rub.

Subscription fee

• • 6 GB and unlimited for instant messengers
• • Unlimited to all MegaFon numbers
• • 300 minutes to local mobiles of other operators

500 rub.

Connection

Add to cart

A special feature of the new line is that unlimited internet and messengers will be available even if the balance runs out. You also don’t have to worry about the remains of unused packages - they are accumulated in the “Piggy Bank”.

Beeline: top “cheerful bee” packages. Customizable tariffs

It is impossible to give an honest assessment and compare tariffs of mobile operators for communications and the Internet without examining the offers from Beeline.

The most popular Beeline tariffs today belong to the “Everything is mine” line with a daily subscription fee, and they differ in the volume of included packages. In total, the group has five tariff plans:

• “Everything is Mine 1”;
• "Everything is Mine 2";
• "Everything is Mine 3";
• “Everything is Mine 4”;
• “Absolutely everything is mine.”

A distinctive feature of the products is the ability to freely exchange the remaining minutes or SMS for traffic and vice versa. This is precisely the principle of adjusting the tariff for each client: choose the most convenient option and adjust its content to suit you.

IMPORTANT! The exchange option is not active in the largest package, since it provides access to the network without restrictions. To activate it, you need to connect a special one for 4 rubles/day.

General terms and Conditions:

1. No tariffs for incoming calls throughout Russia;
2. Free access to the YouTube Music Premium service for six months;
3. When you buy a SIM card and subscribe to a tariff from this line, the mobile operator will give you a “beautiful” number.

Here's what the actual packages look like:

There is another group of tariffs, the content of which cannot be manually adjusted to suit you, but you can select the most acceptable volumes. We are talking about the “Everything” line, the distinctive feature of which is postpayment (once a month).

• The monthly fee varies: 500, 800, 1200, 1500 rubles/month:
• Traffic volume: 10, 14, 20, 30 GB;
• Number of SMS within the network – 300, 500, 1000, 3000 pcs;
• Calls to numbers of all mobile operators in the home area and within Beeline in Russia - 600, 1100, 2200, 3300 min.

Before summing up the products of the Beeline cellular operator, we will mention additional options, the connection of which will provide many cool opportunities - additional traffic, free calls, SMS, participation in quizzes, access to games, music, films and more.

• Brief summary:

1. An analysis of prices showed that Beeline's prices are higher than those of previous companies, but the quality of communication is also excellent;
2. In our opinion, the site is incomprehensible and difficult to navigate (compared to the sites of other providers). For example, it is not immediately clear that in the “Everything is Mine” line, almost all tariffs are customizable;
3. The option to exchange traffic for minutes or SMS and, conversely, is very cool - it makes the tariff more flexible and convenient.

Thus, the Beeline mobile operator has shown itself to be the most inventive, with a wide coverage area and impeccable communication.

MTS tariffs for mobile Internet

Until recently, the main Smart line was offered to smartphone owners, but now several new offers are available. Today, an interesting “NETARIF” has appeared for Moscow residents, similar to the Yota constructor (we will discuss it later). Here the subscriber himself chooses the package of minutes and the volume of mobile Internet. You can make a preference in one direction or another regarding the finished package, adjusting the cost and your own benefit.

For comparison, let’s take the most popular “sets”:

• 200 minutes and 50 SMS, 6 GB of Internet - 454 rubles per month;
• 400 minutes and 50 SMS, 10 GB of Internet - 483 rubles per month;
• 400 minutes and 50 SMS, 15 GB of Internet - 491 rubles per month.

Please note that minutes are consumed on all Russian networks. If after using the package you need unlimited access to MTS, then you can activate the option - the cost is up to 100 rubles per month.

X

Promotion

545 rub.

Subscription fee

• • 7 GB Internet + social networks, instant messengers, video, music, gaming
• • 200 SMS to local numbers
• • Unlimited calls to MTS Russia
• • 100 minutes to local numbers and MTS Russia

500 rub.

Connection

Add to cart

“” is another tariff for a smartphone, 7 GB of Internet on it costs 545 rubles per month, but you need to take into account that only 100 minutes of unlimited calls to MTS are provided for calls on top of the package. The advantage of the tariff is that in addition to the main quota, unlimited use of traffic to social networks, instant messengers, music, videos, games is available, which makes the tariff a universal solution for an active young user.

Tele2 for mobile internet

In our “average” range of 5-15 GB per month, this operator offers two tariffs with 4G connection:

• “Lite” - 10 GB of internet with unlimited intranet in Russia for 12 rubles per day, but without included calls to other operators;
• “My Online” - 15 GB per month with unlimited use on social networks and instant messengers and 500 minutes of calls to all Russian operators for 400 rubles per month.

The peculiarity of Tele2 tariffs is the ability to communicate unlimitedly in the operator’s network, and package minutes are not consumed. You also don’t have to worry about unused traffic remaining, since the balances are transferred and retained by the subscriber forever if you pay the tariff on time. It is also possible to use service packages during the paid period, even if there are no funds on the balance.

YOTA

An operator that stands apart from the “Big Four” and was designed specifically for mobile Internet users. It was this operator that first offered a customizable tariff, like a designer, when the user himself chooses a package of minutes and Internet. And today such functionality is familiar to subscribers of all operators.

Today, too, you can “build your own Yota,” and the uniqueness of the new designer from the virtual operator is again ahead of all other market offerings in this parameter. Now the step when choosing services is one minute and one gigabyte, which allows you to choose exactly what the user needs with special calculation accuracy. Let's look at the cost of comparable tariffs in the traffic range of 5, 10, and 15 GB with a package for 500 minutes:

• 500 minutes and 5 GB of Internet costs 387.38 rubles per month;
• The same volume of services, but 10 GB per month - 393.80 rubles;
• The same volume of services, but 15 GB of mobile Internet - 397.80 rubles.

As you can see, doubling the Internet volume (from 5 GB to 10) increased the subscription fee by only 15 rubles. So, trying to identify the best operator for mobile Internet, we analyzed the price offers of leading Moscow cellular operators. Let's summarize the data in a table and draw conclusions.

Summary

First of all, the same pricing policy of the operators attracts attention: on average, prices are in the range of 500-600 rubles for tariffs with a volume of 5-15 GB of Internet per month. And this is understandable: in conditions of high competition, in order to become the best operator for the mobile Internet and win the attention of the subscriber, it is unprofitable to raise prices. The operator Yota shows the lowest cost for 15 GB traffic. Obviously, it can be considered the most profitable operator for 4G mobile Internet in Moscow. But will it be optimal for you? This depends on many factors: whether you use the Internet at home or on the road (in the subway, train, etc.), what area you live in and how you spend time on the Internet. Therefore, choose the best operator for the Internet at your discretion, taking into account your personal preferences.