27 Feb 04

Russian mobile phone subscribers rose to 38.2 million in January, up from 36.5 million in December, according to J'son & Partners.

December month boosted the overall subscriber base by 2.6 million additions. Market penetration rate rose to 26.3% of the population in January from 25.1% in December.

The penetration rate in Russia's largest markets, Moscow and St. Petersburg, reached 69.6% and 58% respectively.