According to the figures as of January 2007, 30,082,145 people are now using MegaFon, the mobile operator. The number of their subscribers rose by one-third last year, which is very good for the saturated market. The company’s client network used to double every year: from 3,020,818 people in January 2003 to 6,358,700 people in January 2004, to 13,647,807 people in January 2005, and to 22,835,985 people in January 2006. ‘The market has almost reached its saturation limit, which signifies the end of the extensive development era, yet it is now when the potential of telecommunication technologies can be used to the fullest,’ says Larissa Tkachuk, MegaFon’s Commercial Director.

‘Unlike the first stage of development when the emphasis was laid on the extension of the client base, the operators will now focus on ARPU growth with the help of stimulating the demand for their services. MegaFon never aimed to develop extensively, but we have always outstripped the others with our extra offers,’ Ms Tkachuk says. MegaFon’s ARPU came to $13.1 in the third quarter of 2006, it MoU to 222 minutes. The share of extra offers amounted to 13%.