Mobile operators in Russia 2026: a ranking built on verified facts
A ranking of mobile operators in Russia, built only on facts from Roskomnadzor and from operators' official sites. MTS and T2 are not ranked yet because their sites block automated checks. Cost is measured on a reference tariff: the cheapest standard consumer plan with at least 10 GB and 100 minutes, in roubles, normalised to 30 days. The price index shows it against the cheapest basket found in Russia (100) and is valid only inside the country. We also record 4G and 5G, officially stated population coverage, eSIM, roaming, the app, 24/7 support and published terms. Speed tests and reviews are not used. The Score is not for sale; sponsored placements, if there are ever any, will be a separate labelled block.
| # | Company | Who it serves | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Билайн | 62 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not verified | 220 | Regulator-listed Own network 5G eSIM |
| 2 | СберМобайл | 60 | Yes | No | Not verified | Not verified | 100 | Regulator-listed eSIM |
| 3 | МегаФон | 52 | Yes | Yes | Not verified | Not verified | 220 | Regulator-listed Own network eSIM |
| 4 | Yota | 48 | Yes | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | 224 | Regulator-listed eSIM 24/7 support |
-
- Listed by the regulator
- Yes
- Own radio network
- Yes
- Commercial 5G
- Yes
- Stated population coverage
- Not verified
- Price index (100 = cheapest in the country)
- 220
Pros
- Listed by the telecom regulator
- Commercial 5G for consumers
- Runs its own radio network
- Offers eSIM to new customers
Details Visit site ↗ 80% backed by facts
-
- Listed by the regulator
- Yes
- Own radio network
- No
- Commercial 5G
- Not verified
- Stated population coverage
- Not verified
- Price index (100 = cheapest in the country)
- 100
Pros
- Reference tariff among the cheapest in the country
- Listed by the telecom regulator
- Offers eSIM to new customers
- Full tariff terms are public
Cons
- Uses another operator's network
Details Visit site ↗ 67% backed by facts
-
- Listed by the regulator
- Yes
- Own radio network
- Yes
- Commercial 5G
- Not verified
- Stated population coverage
- Not verified
- Price index (100 = cheapest in the country)
- 220
Pros
- Listed by the telecom regulator
- Runs its own radio network
- Offers eSIM to new customers
- Full tariff terms are public
Details Visit site ↗ 70% backed by facts
-
- Listed by the regulator
- Yes
- Own radio network
- Not verified
- Commercial 5G
- Not verified
- Stated population coverage
- Not verified
- Price index (100 = cheapest in the country)
- 224
Pros
- Listed by the telecom regulator
- Offers eSIM to new customers
- Human support stated as 24/7
- Full tariff terms are public
Details Visit site ↗ 67% backed by facts
Not ranked yet: not enough verified data
These services are known to us, but we haven't verified enough facts to rank them fairly.
- МТС (site closed to automated checks, )
- Мотив (37% backed by facts)
- Т2 (site closed to automated checks, )
Sites marked as closed refuse automated reading (403 error, captcha or a robots.txt ban). We don't bypass such protection, so we can't verify their facts and they are not ranked. This says nothing about their quality. A company can send links to its official pages to [email protected].
How we calculate the Score
40%
Network
Whether the operator is listed by the telecom regulator as an authorised or registered provider, whether it runs its own radio network or uses another operator's (MVNO), whether consumers have commercial 4G and 5G (pilots do not count), and the share of the population covered, as stated by the operator or the regulator. Territory shares and the word "nationwide" are not counted. Stated coverage is not a measurement of quality or speed.
30%
Cost
The monthly price of a reference basket: the cheapest standard published consumer tariff, postpaid or prepaid, with at least 10 GB of domestic data and at least 100 domestic minutes, open to any new customer. Regular price without temporary promotions, bundles with home internet, handsets, age-limited tariffs or multi-line discounts, normalised to 30 days. The index shows the price against the cheapest basket found in the same country: 100 is the cheapest, 150 is 50% dearer, 300 or more scores zero. The original price in local currency is shown on the company page. The index is comparable only within one country.
20%
Service
Whether eSIM is offered to new customers, whether international roaming is available on consumer plans, whether the operator has its own self-care app, and whether human support by phone or chat is stated as 24/7.
10%
Transparency
Whether the full price list or tariff terms are public without logging in, and whether the operator publishes how to file a complaint.
How to choose a mobile operator
Check coverage at your address
The share of the population covered says little about one street or village. Use the operator's coverage map for the places where you live, work and travel.
Look at the regular price
Compare the price after any promotional period, including the contract term, activation fee and what happens once the data allowance runs out.
Read the roaming terms
Roaming being available does not mean it is cheap or included. Check the price in the countries you actually visit.
Check the exit terms
See the minimum contract term, the notice period and how to keep your number. Your phone also has to support the operator's bands and eSIM.
Frequently asked questions
Who licenses mobile operators in Russia?
Roskomnadzor. It keeps a public register of telecom licences: searching by a company's tax number (INN) shows whether it holds a valid licence for mobile radiotelephone services. Virtual operators (MVNOs) hold a licence marked for the virtual network business model.
How many SIM cards can one person have in Russia?
Under the Communications Act, no more than 20 SIM cards per Russian citizen and no more than 10 per foreign national. Numbers above the limit are blocked by the operator.
Can I keep my number when switching operators?
Yes. A number can be ported 30 days after signing a contract and 60 days after a previous port; it must not be blocked and the account must not be in debt. According to MegaFon, the check takes 8–14 calendar days, and a temporary number can be used meanwhile.