Telecommunications in Russia: From Monopolistic Village Phones, to Competitive Global Players in 20 Years

Abstract

This paper analyzes and reviews the rapid transformation of Russian telecommunications and Internet operators over the past 20 years, from small town phone service suppliers, to top-5 global players. The approach taken is a dynamic eco-systems oriented analysis of the past 20 years evolution, to identify disruptive strategy changes , and to assess their weight compared to a regulation based process in countries or regions having achieved a high economic impact of their telecommunications sector. The identification of the key disruptive changes allows studying stages in the evolution. In turn, the strategy dynamics driving the key players is mapped out. The comparative analysis identifies what Russia has done in a distinctively different way to major telecommunications and Internet countries, or not at all. On that basis, perspectives for the Russian telecommunications and Internet eco-system are elaborated. Such a study has implications on both the entrepreneurial approach and the regulatory approach in telecommunications and related industries.

Keywords: Telecommunications, Russia, Fixed operators, Mobile operators, Internet, CATV, Broadband, Strategy

JEL Classification: L96, P2, P3, P52, D4, F14, L1, L5, M14, N70, O3, O52