Each telephone number is a series of numbers 9xx and starting with +7xx. To determine the region code, it uses a three-digit numeric code, which can be seen in brackets (9xx). The first number +7 helps determine if the call is made abroad. Thus, region codes from cellular operators are not tied to a specific geographical area, like those of stationary devices. Today in our country the most popular are only three providers. More recently, this list has been supplemented by the less popular Tele 2, RosTelecom and others.
What is a digital code for mobile devices?
The concept of any cellular operator means a code of 11 original numbers. By the first three digits you can always find out the name of the provider and the region of connection. This is very convenient if your phone uses two SIM cards at once or you need to top up your balance. If you need to use the services of other operators, you have to change the number and rewrite all the information again. More recently, a new function was introduced: “replacing the operator while maintaining the number,” which significantly complicated the operation of determining the necessary information using the code.
Beeline is the most widespread in the world
The next Moscow operator is Beeline, a trademark of VimpelCom PJSC. Its services are as follows:
- mobile and fixed telephone communications;
- Internet access, data transmission, including via fiber optics, 4G networks, Wi-Fi;
- broadband Internet access.
Beeline is not only a mobile operator in Moscow and Russia. The company provides its services in many countries - Italy, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Laos, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Armenia, Georgia, Algeria, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh, etc.
Which of them are currently operating in the Russian Federation?
Today, one hundred codes are used in Russia, starting with 900 901 902 903 904 905 906 908 909 910 911 912 913 914 915 916 917 918 919 920 921 922 923 924 925 926 927 9 28 929 930 931 932 933 934 936 937 938 939 941 945 950 951 952 953 954 955 956 958 960 961 962 963 964 965 966 967 968 969 970 971 977 978 980 981 982 983 984 985 986 987 988 989 991 992 993 994 995 996 997 999. A total of approximately 79 are used, with There are still 20 ciphers left:
- MTS - 901, 902, 904, 908, 910, 911, 912, 913, 914, 915, 916, 917, 918, 919, 950, 978, 980, 981, 982, 983, 984, 985, 986, 987, 988, 989;
- Megafon - 902, 904, 908, 920, 921, 922, 923, 924, 925, 926, 927, 928, 929, 930, 931, 932, 933, 934, 936, 937, 938, 939, 950, 951, 950, 951, 951 999;
- Beeline - 900, 902, 903, 904, 905, 906, 908, 909, 950, 951, 953, 960, 961, 962, 963, 964, 965, 966, 967, 968, 969, 980, 983, 986;
- Rostelecom - 901, 902, 912, 930, 939, 955, 958, 970, 971, 991, 992, 993;
- Tele 2 - 900, 901, 902, 904, 908, 950, 951, 952, 953, 958, 977, 991, 992, 993, 994, 995, 996, 999;
- MTT - 901, 923, 924, 930, 931, 932, 933, 934, 936, 938, 939, 958, 966, 969, 977, 980, 981, 982, 983, 984, 985, 986, 989, 992. 993, 994, 995, 996;
- Mobile from Tinkoff - 995;
- SberMobile - 901, 930, 933, 958, 966, 977, 980, 989, 995, 996.
There are also 20 more inactive codes - 907, 935, 940, 942, 943, 944, 946, 947, 948, 949, 957, 959, 972, 973, 974, 975, 976, 979, 990, 998.
Megafon is the most actively developing
PJSC Megafon presents its entire range of telematics services to its subscribers. It works not only in Moscow, but throughout Russia, as well as in Tajikistan, South Ossetia and Abkhazia. It was Megafon that was the first in the country to provide its subscribers with high-speed Internet - first 3G, and then LTE.
This Moscow mobile operator is also known for actively acquiring shares of other companies in its market - Synterra, Euroset, MegaLabs. Among its subsidiaries are the well-known Iota and the NETBYNET provider.
How to determine information of interest using digital codes
In some cases, you will need to determine the region and operator name, especially if calls come from unfamiliar numbers. You can get all the necessary information about the number you are interested in in several ways:
- Through the Internet. Today you can get the necessary information about numbers online. All you have to do is go to one of the sites and enter the first numbers in the appropriate column, for example - . You can also determine the cost of a call in a given region.
- USSD request method. You can now find out the subscriber's location using the USSD command. For example, if you dial *629# into Megafon and send, in response you will receive an SMS with an interactive window where you need to insert 5 numbers and press the “dial” key. After this, the display will display all the information of interest.
- Every modern smartphone has a special application for caller ID services. If it is not there, you can always download the necessary application on the Internet and install it. After that, you just have to go to the settings and select the desired application.
Upon registration, each of the numbers is entered into the database, starting from Moscow (495) to Kamchatka (955). Establishment of areas occurs using such DEF codes. In Crimea today, Ukrainian operators often offer services, so you have to use the caller ID service very often. As you can see, DEF codes are very helpful in determining the necessary information about the number. For convenience, you can use several methods at once.
MTS is the most expensive brand
PJSC is one of the oldest mobile operators in the Russian Federation and CIS countries. The company was founded in 1993. It provides the following services:
- cellular;
- telephone wire connection;
- mobile, digital, satellite and cable television;
- home Internet.
In 2010, the trademark of this mobile operator in Moscow and Russia was recognized as the most expensive and valued at 213,198 million rubles. The net annual profit of MTS is about 50 billion rubles per year.
"Teletay" - the most little-known connection
Teletay is another VimpelCom product, a service provider with attractive tariff plans and high quality of services offered. Basically, its TP line is intended for those who want to communicate economically and a lot - in unlimited variations. The company promises an unobtrusive multidisciplinary service, an individual approach to each subscriber, and attractive offers for active mobile Internet users and those who like to chat on a smartphone. There are also special offers for businessmen and customers who frequently travel to the roaming area.
The slight popularity of Teletai is primarily due to the fact that it operates in only two regions - Moscow and the region, as well as in St. Petersburg.
Which cellular company is better: description of operator features
It is logical to assume that the entire complexity of choosing an operator is based precisely on determining complex competitive advantages both in terms of communication quality and coverage area size, as well as the variability of tariff plans and the level of technical support. Therefore, let's take a closer look at the characteristic features of each of the providers.
MTS
The mobile operator MTS has been providing high-quality communication services since 1993 and has established itself as a reliable and affordable provider. The company has the largest subscriber base (over 100 million people), promptly introduces advanced technologies, actively develops high-speed mobile networks, and provides the possibility of a single Internet for all devices.
Advantages:
- High quality communication. Thanks to extensive experience in customer service and the use of modern telecommunications equipment, the operator guarantees stable and high-quality communication among dense buildings, inside and outside buildings.
- Well-thought-out Internet tariff plans. MTS is always ready to offer favorable tariffs with a large volume of traffic for subscribers who need constant and uninterrupted Internet surfing. In addition, there is nightly unlimited or completely unlimited mobile Internet.
- Developed roaming network. Long-term partnerships with national and foreign mobile operators allow MTS to provide its users with comfortable communications anywhere in the country and the world.
Flaws:
- Relatively high tariffs for services. The issue of MTS communication prices is quite complex and confusing. In general, the company offers affordable and competitive rates. But some tariff plans that have similar functional content to competitors, nevertheless, cost the user more.
- Insufficient coverage area. The provider's own network coverage is the weak point. According to this indicator, the company loses to both Beeline and Megafon. At the same time, the affordable cost of roaming services largely compensates for this shortcoming.
- Low quality technical support. This problem is not unique to MTS, but is common to all operators. But it is in relation to MTS that it manifests itself most clearly due to its huge customer base. Getting through to a customer support center specialist is often not just difficult, but almost impossible. Those same users who actively use the provider’s self-service services (,) do not notice this problem. This suggests that against the backdrop of the growing popularity of online services, difficulties with dialing the MTS call center are gradually losing their significance and relevance.
Megaphone
Megafon is one of the undisputed leaders of the Russian telecommunications services market.
The provider has almost 15 years of experience and during this time the number of subscribers has exceeded 90 million people.
Advantages:
- The largest coverage area in Russia. Each subscriber of the company does not have to worry that in some corner of the country he will face the problem of lack of mobile communications. Even remote and sparsely populated areas of Russia are equipped with Megafon base stations. It is clear that with a low number of users, the costs of maintaining the equipment cannot be fully compensated. But the company purposefully does this in order to have a clear advantage over its competitors and become the No. 1 provider in Russia.
- Active implementation of advanced technologies. Megafon carefully monitors global trends in the telecommunications market and promptly introduces promising technologies and services. It was the first to provide mobile video capabilities and provide users with high-speed mobile Internet 4G+ at 300 Mbps. The reliability and stability of the company is also evidenced by the fact that Megafon has become the official mobile service provider for the 2021 FIFA World Cup.
- High internet speed. We have already mentioned that broadband Internet access at high speed is becoming a signature feature of Megafon. True, the situation here is quite specific and unusual for Russian realities. No, high-speed Internet has not gone away, but almost all full-scale tariff plans associated with it have gone to the new Megafon brand - the Yota company.
Flaws:
- Weak technical support. Let's not dwell too much on this point. Let's say that the difficulties here are the same as those faced by MTS, as well as ways to solve them using online self-service services. After registering on the provider’s website, subscribers can use functionality that allows them to independently solve a huge list of problems in setting up communications, managing their account and tariff plan. The same features are also implemented in the Megafon mobile application. Personal Area".
- Confusion of tariff plans. Compared to other providers, Megafon has the most difficult tariff plan system for an untrained user to understand. The tariffs are quite confusing, payment varies greatly depending on the region, they provide for different tariff schemes when activating additional options, many of which have archival status. When choosing a provider, such a drawback may become key and force you to purchase a SIM card from another company.
Iota
Speaking about MegaFon, we cannot ignore its subsidiary brand Yota, which offers the best tariff plans in Russia with unlimited mobile Internet. Largely due to this, Megafon’s current tariffs do not have built-in Internet traffic packages. The calculation is simple: if you want high-quality and inexpensive Internet, buy a Yota SIM card, and Megafon will provide accessible communications throughout Russia. But recently, this advantage has been significantly reduced by the operator itself, which has already provided packages of minutes, traffic and SMS for new tariffs.
Advantages:
- High-speed Internet at low cost. For just 100-150 rubles a month you can get unlimited access to social networks and instant messengers. Data transfer speed reaches 20 Mbit/s.
- Affordable tariffs. Despite the bundling of services, Yota tariff plans remain inexpensive and well-filled. For example, 5GB of Internet traffic and 150 minutes of calls throughout Russia will cost only 250 rubles per month.
- Transparent prices. In this regard, Yota compares favorably with Megafon, offering clear descriptions of tariff plans.
- Roaming-free space throughout Russia. This is an important and necessary feature of Iota. When leaving your home region for up to 30 days, there is no need to worry about increased costs due to roaming. Throughout the month, the operator provides mobile communications and Internet services at prices in your home region, regardless of your place of stay.
Flaws:
- Virtual operator factor. Yota subscribers are completely dependent on the serviceability and workload of Megafon equipment. This must be taken into account when choosing a second SIM card in order to increase communication reliability.
- Insufficient coverage area. The Yota provider is a developing brand and is not yet able to cover the same regions as Megafon. But the significance of this disadvantage is decreasing every day as the service area expands.
- SIM card differentiation. It is impossible to use the same Yota SIM card in a smartphone, tablet, modem or router. Each type of device has its own separate card, and it is impossible to “deceive” the network, since the equipment is identified by the IMEI number.
Beeline
The Beeline company is also an old-timer in the domestic mobile services market, having started its activities back in 1993. The operator's customer base exceeds 60 million people and is constantly expanding due to favorable tariffs and new loyalty programs.
Advantages:
- Variety of tariff plans and service options. Each user can easily select the optimal tariff plan for themselves within the planned mobile budget.
- Promotions and bonuses. Beeline, like no other provider, constantly offers its customers various discounts, promotions and bonuses. For example, you can connect to the premium Viasat TV package with a 25% discount, purchase modern devices on credit without overpayments, receive an additional traffic package for replenishment or an individual tariff offer, etc.
- Timely and competent technical support. Despite the fact that it can be difficult to reach the Beeline call center, subscribers can always count on a high-quality and professional solution to their problems. In addition, a mobile online self-service service is always available to users.
Flaws:
- Malfunctions. Frequent negative reviews on the Internet indicate periodic technical failures of the provider’s equipment. It gets to the point where even checking the balance using the USSD command becomes unavailable. To be fair, we note that Beeline quickly fixes problems that arise.
- Expensive roaming. This is one of the main disadvantages of Beeline. When leaving the home region, the subscriber must be prepared for sharply increased costs for poor communication.
- Poor quality of communication far from cities. Beeline does not strive to install base stations in places that are unprofitable from a monetization point of view. Therefore, as you move away from the city, the network signal begins to weaken sharply.
Tele2
We will not particularly highlight the advantages and disadvantages of the Tele2 provider. It is a legacy of Swedish investors and is now owned by the Russian financial group VTB. The company has only one obvious drawback - a relatively small coverage area. As a result, subscribers had to constantly deal with rather expensive national roaming. Recently, this problem has been solved quite effectively through the connection of a special one.
Low price tariffs and high-quality communications allow Tele2 to constantly increase its subscriber base, which now numbers almost 25 million users and provides the operator with 3rd place in the ranking of the most popular mobile operators in the country.
Best operators
Russian mobile operators that are leaders in terms of the number of subscribers:
- MTS. This operator operates in 118 regions of the country. Its database contains more than 177.5 million phone numbers.
- Beeline, whose network is distributed in 185 regions. The number of telephone numbers is more than 135.4 million.
- Megafon, which has spread its network across 142 regions of Russia. It contains over 134 million phone numbers.
These mobile operators in Russia are most popular among the country's population.
Yota is the most intriguing
Yota can certainly be considered the most mysterious Russian operator - this is due to the corporation’s advertising campaign. Yota is the world leader in providing and is also the recognized “fourth operator” in Russia according to 2014 data. Today it is not only a mobile operator in Moscow, but a company operating in 81 regions of the country (modem products are currently available only in 76 regions).
Yota is distinguished from the rest of the variety of operators by visible advantages:
- Communication without roaming throughout the Russian Federation.
- Prices for all services do not change depending on your movements around Russia.
- Unlimited free voice communication within the network throughout the Russian Federation.
- “Transparent” control of your expenses in the operator’s mobile application.
- Free communication in popular instant messengers abroad, even with a zero balance.
- Annual unlimited package at maximum speed.
Tele2 is the most economical
In Russia, the Swedish loudly declared itself back in 2003. Promising advertising campaigns also attracted attention to it - high quality, excellent service, ease of operation, coupled with unprecedentedly low communication prices. In Moscow, the mobile operator Tele2 appeared relatively recently - this was due to the fact that it smoothly integrated with the assets of Rostelecom in 2014. Before this, in 2013, the Swedish corporation Tele2 AB sold its Russian branch to the VTB group of companies.
Today Tele2 provides a wide range of telecommunications services for both private clients and businesses. In addition to Moscow, the operator operates in another 65 regions of Russia.