Date: 21 Feb 2018
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The FAS keeps asking and asking mobile operators to remove roaming, and they keep resisting and resisting. Has MTS finally canceled roaming in Russia or not? Let's figure it out.
FAS and Roaming
First you need to understand what roaming is. Intranet roaming is a communication and data service provided by a mobile operator outside the "home region" in the network of this operator. The home region is the region of Russia in which you bought and issued a SIM card. Tariffication of mobile communication and data services outside the home region may differ from the tariffication in the home region and, most often, it is.
The FAS has been trying for many months to "convince" telecom operators that intranet roaming is a relic of the past and should be abolished. But mobile operators are resting, because with the full abolition of roaming, they can lose solid money. By the way, MTS has changed the conditions of national roaming (Crimea, etc.). You can read about it.
What did MTS do? At least there are no statements about the abolition of roaming this time, and this indicates two things: MTS did not lie in the title, roaming has not been canceled. But let's see what changes await us.
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Changes as of February 28 and March 14, 2018
From February 28, 2018, a number of tariff plans (including archived ones) will have a new billing for minutes, SMS and mobile Internet outside the home region in the MTS network (the same intranet roaming). MTS promises price cuts from two to ten times.
Based on the news, it can be noted that the changes will affect only the tariff plans "", "", "", "" and "". Very modest, to be honest. Anyway…
Changes to roaming conditions for "Smart", "Smart Unlimited", "My Unlimited"
From February 28, 2018, the paid intranet roaming option is canceled on Smart, Smart 052013, Smart 102014, Smart Unlimited 032017 and My Unlimited tariffs. The one that was 15 rubles a day. Now packages of minutes, SMS and Internet can be used on the terms of the home region for free.
On the one hand, the news is certainly good. On the other hand, for such a description of a service with a footnote, MTS should have been fined a long time ago and forced to change the description. The tariff is valid throughout Russia, but please pay for it. It's good that it was removed altogether...
The package of minutes will be spent on MTS Russia numbers, as well as on numbers of the host region. If the package of minutes ends, calls to MTS Russia numbers will remain free.
Any incoming calls from the host region - 0 rubles per minute, but other incoming calls - 5.5 rubles per minute. Now this is not great at all. Especially considering that on all fresh MTS tariffs, even in roaming, there were free incoming calls! And what is this "as in the home region"? After all, at home you do not pay for incoming messages from other regions of Russia? It is in such details that the essence of the abolition of roaming should lie! But no, alas. If you get a call from your home region to the region of your stay, then if you please pay 5.5 rubles per minute of an incoming call. Not cool, MTS!
If the package includes long-distance outgoing calls to numbers of other operators, then they will be spent outside the home region. In this case, if you go on a trip to Russia, your home region ceases to be your home region - now calls to this region are considered long-distance. If long-distance calls to numbers of other operators are not included in the package of minutes, then a minute will cost 5.5 rubles.
SMS to the numbers of the region of stay will be spent from the package of minutes.
The services "All Russia SMART" and "Everywhere like at home SMART" will no longer be paid on these tariff plans, and payment for communication will occur under new conditions. Is it healthy? Yes, so-so, to be honest. The fact is that with the service, for example, Everywhere at home, you could really be at home everywhere, but now it turns out that you will be at home only in the region of your stay. And even then, not quite “like at home” (hello, paid incoming calls). Nothing has been said about the “Everywhere at home” service (without SMART), so we will assume that it will still be available on these tariff plans.
Changes in roaming conditions for "Super MTS" or "My friend"
"My friend" is the same "Super MTS", only a SIM card is issued as a gift. You can read about the My Friend tariff.
From March 14, 2018, there will be changes in the conditions of intra-network roaming on the tariffs of the Super MTS and My Friend line.
Incoming from numbers in the region of stay - free of charge (instead of 10.9 rubles per minute). Good news! Incoming calls from numbers in the home region and other regions of Russia - 5.5 rubles per minute ("instead of 10.9 rubles per minute" - it is written in the official MTS news, but this only applies to very ancient tariffs, because the new incoming calls were free!)
Outgoing calls to any numbers in the host region - according to the conditions of the home region (instead of 14 rubles per minute), outgoing calls to the numbers of operators in the home region and MTS Russia - 5.5 rubles per minute (instead of 10.9 rubles per minute), outgoing to the numbers of operators other operators in other regions of Russia - 5.5 rubles per minute (instead of 14 rubles per minute).
SMS to numbers in the host region - 1.95 rubles (place 3.95 rubles), SMS to other numbers in Russia - 2.95 rubles (instead of 3.95 rubles).
Also, for a whole bunch of options, money will no longer be withdrawn, and the conditions will be new. That is, these tariff options will not work.
The "Bit" and "MiniBit" options will work when traveling around Russia at home without any additional payments and additional connections.
And again for the old ...
MTS seems to have reduced prices, removed fees for some dubious services (15 rubles per day on Smarts), but at the same time, for many subscribers, the need to connect roaming services will not disappear, which allow you to feel “like at home” when traveling around Russia, since incoming from the home region will become paid.
And if you need such calls to be free, and calls to the numbers of all mobile operators in Russia cost you 3 rubles per minute, then you need to activate a new additional option "Everywhere at home in Russia". Option description: .
The service for tariffs "Smart", "Smart Unlimited", "My Unlimited" - "Russia Home Package" will also be offered. This option will allow you to receive all incoming calls for free, and calls and SMS to the hole in your home region will be spent from the packages. Option description: .
And what is the result? If you want to feel like at home, do you need to connect additional paid options? What is this cancellation of roaming? Yes, prices have come down, but it's only a tiny step towards cancellation. Let's see what FAS has to say...
The exact dates have become known when the Big Four mobile operators will complete all measures to abolish intra-network roaming in Russia.
The first to refuse roaming (Beeline brand). As Gazeta.Ru previously reported, starting from August 20, all incoming calls for all subscribers will become free, regardless of the tariff.
“Thus, taking into account the wishes of our subscribers and listening to the opinion, we have finally formed simple and understandable conditions for charging “like at home” any services throughout Russia in the Beeline network,” said Executive Vice President for Marketing and Brand PJSC VimpelCom.
“MTS has carried out all the necessary preparatory work, and in the near future, from August 30, incoming calls while traveling around the country will become free for subscribers of all the most popular tariff plans. The Internet will continue to operate throughout the country without surcharges, ”the spokesman told Gazeta.Ru.
Thus, the "Big Four" in turn finalizes the abolition of intra-network roaming in the country by September 1, 2018.
A single tariff is not far off
Approved the draft law on the abolition of roaming in Russia in July this year. Parliamentarians called roaming "archaic", which hinders the availability of communication services in the country. In addition, roaming charges are "only an additional source of income for the respective telecom operators."
An important provision of the document was the requirement to cancel the fee for receiving incoming calls if the subscriber calls from another region of Russia. When receiving a call from another state, the fee is saved.
As follows from the explanatory note to the bill,
the abolition of roaming will contribute to the development of the communications market, more active involvement of subscribers in the use of services of telecom operators, as well as increase the level of transparency in this area and make communication tariffs clear to subscribers.
In addition, according to the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Control and Regulations, discussions are underway on the introduction of a single tariff for communication services throughout the country.
The Chairman of the Committee on Information Policy, Information Technologies and Communications in his speech pointed out that some provisions of the draft law need some improvement.
“In particular, it is necessary to indicate that the term “single tariff for services” is absent in the legislation of the Russian Federation and is not specified by the draft law. In addition, it seems appropriate to regulate not the payment for communication services, but the functions of the operator providing the subscriber with communication services, obliging him to establish the same conditions for the provision of such services for subscribers throughout the Russian Federation, ”Levin said.
In the Committee's press release (available to Gazeta.Ru), Leonid Levin also talks about the upcoming abolition of national roaming in the country.
“We expect during the autumn session to adopt a long-awaited law by citizens, which provides for the abolition of national roaming and establishes the principle of a single billing for voice call services in the networks of mobile operators.
After it is signed by the President and comes into force, the citizens of our country will be able to safely travel around Russia without worrying about additional communication costs and maintaining their usual involvement in communication and a single information environment,” the chairman said.
According to him, changes in the legislation will not lead to higher prices for communication services.
“The capacity of the infrastructure of backbone communication channels, through which, among other things, voice calls of mobile operators are transmitted, is colossal and for the most part is loaded with Internet traffic. In addition, fierce competition for a subscriber forces cellular companies to maintain low prices for their services,” commented Leonid Levin.
As you know, domestic roaming operates on the territory of Russia. When leaving for a neighboring region, the subscriber has to pay for his calls at a more expensive rate. Is there a solution to this problem? The abolition of roaming in Russia has long been discussed everywhere, but will it happen in the near future?
In the near future, Russians should expect a new mobile tariff, in which the cost of calls will decrease to the level of home calls, regardless of the network coverage area. According to the new rules, no fees will be charged when receiving calls from other cities and regions. The fare rules throughout the country will remain unchanged.
What do the experts say?
Finam Management, represented by analyst Maxim Klyagin, reports that the introduction of this innovation should take place in the near future, since the abolition of national roaming in Russia has been practically resolved and does not have any particular difficulties.
It is worth noting some points that will significantly slow down the process of project implementation. The territory of the Russian Federation has a significant extent and uneven geographical relief, and this greatly complicates the work on the organization of infrastructure, and also increases the cost of its maintenance. Of course, it is worth noting the complexity of formalizing the initiative through legislative norms. The main part of the financial costs will be borne by the consumer. According to experts, if the legislation is changed, it would be possible to significantly reduce the cost of tariffs for the population for paying for intranet roaming.
Previous attempts
In 2010, there was a parliamentary initiative to legally abolish national roaming. But, unfortunately, the State Duma considered it premature to cancel the existing norms, arguing that operators incur additional costs when servicing calls at the interregional level. For this reason, the law on the abolition of roaming in Russia has not been issued.
What is roaming and its alternative?
National roaming is the actual use of the network of another mobile operator for the needs of the first. Due to the fact that its use is extremely unprofitable for consumers, mobile communications are being actively replaced by IP-telephony services.
Intra-network roaming - in which one operator distributes telephone services through its own network between different regions of the country.
Volp (voiceover IP) is an IP protocol technology for telephony and communications. The technology can be used for sound transmission, downloading video, sound files and alert programs. It can also be used when broadcasting live webinars, movies, TV shows. Since the abolition of roaming in Russia has not yet been implemented, the use of these alternatives is becoming more popular every month.
How does this happen?
According to experts, the increased popularity of this topic indicates a direct aggravation of competition in the mobile communications market. First of all, VoIP technology will significantly reduce the cost of calls. Recently, all mobile operators are going to reduce the cost of calls in roaming, forming special tariff packages.
The tariff is charged by the minute. If the connection is made up to three seconds inclusive, the payment is not charged. When connecting subscribers from different regions, cellular operators use zonal and long-distance networks. In the situation that has developed at this stage, when the subscriber connects to national roaming, the system activates the service "intra-network roaming".
When the subscriber travels to another region, making intra-regional calls there, he will pay through his home network.
About national roaming
Since the networks of operators cannot physically cover the entire territory of the country, they need to enter into a roaming agreement with operators from other regions of Russia and use their coverage to make a connection. By definition, a guest network is one in which a subscriber registers, in which he himself becomes a roamer.
If intra-network roaming is canceled in Russia, this will inevitably lead to irreversible consequences in the form of loss of income of mobile operators, which will eventually affect the end consumer, since they will cover a significant share of the income loss. So say the interviewed analysts from RIA Novosti. Thus, we will have to expect a significant increase in the cost of calls.
Cancellation of roaming in Russia - a question of the near future?
The head of the antimonopoly Federal Service (FAS), Igor Artemyev, said earlier that domestic roaming should be abolished, especially in Crimea. The top of the department urged the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications to complete work in this direction as soon as possible.
However, the risk of tariff increases remains a serious problem. According to analysts, roaming provides 3-5% of revenues for mobile providers.
According to Vitaly Solonin, head of the wireless technology department, after the abolition of national roaming, with the existing regulation of long-distance traffic, the profitability of telecom operators will be about 3-5% of their individual income from mobile communications.
Is a serious increase in tariffs realistic?
According to him, if the legislation reform is not approved, there is a risk of an increase in tariffs for mobile communications. How should the abolition of roaming in Russia be regulated? In the context of growing revenues of operators, it is more reasonable to first reorganize the industry legislation in the field of traffic transmission, and only after that cancel roaming within the country. Otherwise, this will affect the tariffs for end users - which means that operators will have to recover their losses.
Konstantin Ankilov, a representative of TMT Consulting, also agreed with the position expressed above. According to him, income from roaming is about 5% of the revenue of mobile operators. This is a very tangible part of it, especially for such common providers as MTS and MegaFon. The abolition of roaming within Russia in such conditions, when the market is almost not expanding, will lead to a serious rise in the cost of communication. Operators will cover lost revenues by increasing tariffs, reaching approximately the same level of profitability.
Ankilov also expressed his attitude towards roaming tariffs in Crimea in the media, noting the fact that inter-operator tariffs have been increased for some companies.
Opposite opinion
At the same time, Denis Kuskov, CEO of an analytical news agency called TelecomDaily, believes that national roaming does not bring supernatural revenue, and its abolition should not affect the growth of tariffs. According to him, operators have federal licenses and are required to provide the same work throughout the state. The Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications takes the wrong position - not to pay attention to what is happening and agree with the actions of the operators. Considering that the EU has managed to completely abolish roaming, this means that it is possible to do this in Russia, Kuskov believes.
Cancellation of roaming in Russia: MTS and other operators
Cellular operators report that they are now working on reducing roaming rates.
The head of the press service of the MegaFon provider, Yulia Dorokhin, recalled that at present, operators conduct traffic through long-distance networks, which has affected the basic rates of domestic roaming. In the future, these costs will be reduced through the introduction of new technologies, as well as traffic through the data network (for example, VoLTE), but it is not possible to use them due to the lack of a legal framework.
She also explained that even today Megafon subscribers who regularly travel around Russia have the opportunity to activate an option called "Be at home", the price of which is 15 rubles per day. This makes it possible to communicate on trips at the rates of the home region.
What kind of news appears from MTS-Russia? This operator also plans to cancel roaming. MTS canceled it in 2015 on tariffs of the Smart series: a subscriber, while traveling in another region, is served on a home tariff basis. This was officially announced by Dmitry Solodovnikov - the press secretary of MTS.
Beeline is pursuing a phased policy of reducing roaming rates for its customers. When using the "ALL" package tariffs, subscribers have access to unlimited calls from the "Beeline" provider almost throughout Russia. In this case, the user receives a set of available minutes, SMS and mobile Internet at a cost commensurate with the rates of the home region. Moreover, when traveling through the territory of many regions of Russia, communication is provided at the same prices as at home. This was officially announced by the press secretary of the provider company Anna Aibasheva.
Thus, active measures are already being taken to abolish national roaming. Whether this will be profitable and convenient for consumers - this can be seen in the near future.
Formally, Russian operators were obliged to solve the problem of long-distance roaming once and for all. In fact, it turned out that they just dodged and made tariffs more confusing and less profitable.
We tried to understand the conditions of each operator and talked about what surprises you will encounter while traveling to other cities.
MTS
Inbox. As soon as you arrive in another city, all incoming calls from local numbers in this region become automatically free for you. And if they call you from Moscow, then be prepared to pay 5.5 rub./min incoming call.
Keep in mind this may even apply to calls to the country if it is in another region! I somehow called my parents and in half an hour 165 rubles were written off from their balance.
Packets and outgoing. The remaining minutes and sms from the package automatically begin to act on all calls and messages to numbers in the region of stay, as well as for calls and sms to MTS subscribers of any Russian region.
But if you call another operator not from the region of your stay, then if you please pay 5.5 rub./min or RUB 2.95/sms.
Internet. Perhaps the mobile Internet is the only option that has received pluses, not minuses after the “cancellation” of national roaming. Now if you have 2 GB of traffic, they will be automatically spent in any other region.
Options. MTS has two options "Home package Russia" and "Home package Russia+", when they are connected, all incoming calls become free for the duration of the options.
The first is worth 15 rubles/day, and the second 100 rubles/month. And for those who do not use package tariffs, the option is suitable "Everywhere at home Russia" per 7 rubles/day. When it is connected, all incoming ones also become free, and outgoing ones will be 3 rubles/day.
Beeline
inbox. Just like with MTS, when traveling to another city, all incoming calls from numbers in this region become free for you, but incoming calls from other regions will cost you 5 rub/min.
Packets and outgoing. The action of minutes and SMS packages applies to calls and messages only to numbers in the region of stay. If you try to call home then pay 12 rub/min and SMS will cost you 2.95 RUB.
Interestingly, tariff subscribers "All is mine" can call free of charge to subscribers of the same tariff line.
Internet. Also, like MTS, no restrictions are imposed on the mobile Internet from the package, and this is a big plus.
Options. Beeline has two options for intercity: "Calls in Russia" and "Calls within Russia +". The first gives free incoming calls from all Russian numbers when you are in your home region or while traveling to another city.
The option also gives 100 minutes of long-distance calls to numbers of other operators for a month. Connection costs 30 rubles, are additionally written off according to 5 rubles/day.
The second option, despite the “plus” in the name, in fact turns out to be much simpler: for 3 rubles / day you get free incoming calls from all numbers of other operators.
Megaphone
For this operator, I will not make divisions because of this news. The fact is that since July 1, Megafon has changed the conditions for intercity, so there is not much point in describing the current tariffs.
Here's what will happen: calls and SMS to local numbers will consume your bundles of minutes and SMS, and incoming from other cities, including home (if you are on a trip) will be considered long distance calls and will cost you about 5 rub/min. At the same time, the operator writes in the news that if there is a package for long-distance calls, the fee for incoming calls will not be charged.
Let's see how it will be in practice, but so far - rather vague.
Megaphone has an option "All Russia", when it is connected, all outgoing calls and SMS (if you do not have a package tariff) to any Russian numbers will cost 3 rubles. Service fee - 7 rubles/day.
Tele 2
Inbox. All Tele2 package tariffs have preferential terms: any incoming calls from any Russian region are free. If you have a tariff without a monthly fee, then be prepared to pay for 5 rub/min on an incoming call.
Packets and outgoing. When traveling to other cities of Russia, packages of minutes and SMS begin to act on local numbers of the city where you arrive. But a call to another region will cost 2 rub/min, sms - 3.5 rub./min.
Internet. With the Internet, everything is simple. It operates throughout the country without any restrictions.
Options. Tele2 has an option , it is useful for those who have a tariff without a subscription fee or without a package of included minutes. Per 3 rubles/day you will receive free incoming calls from all numbers, and outgoing 2 rub/min, sms - 2.5 rub./min.
In fact, on a free plan, you will receive the same conditions as on a package plan.
Iota
Iota has a completely transparent policy regarding long-distance roaming. When traveling to other cities for less than 30 days, all incoming calls from any Russian numbers will be free of charge, and minutes from the package will be spent on all outgoing calls to any Russian numbers. Mobile Internet also operates throughout Russia.
If you are traveling for more than 30 days, then the operator seems to suspect that you are trying to cheat with tariff plans and will offer you local region rates.
Conclusion
I do not believe that the conditions in long-distance roaming will in any way affect your desire to change the operator, so I will give some simple tips. Most likely you have one of the big three operators. If this is the case, then during a trip to another city, do not receive incoming calls without unnecessary necessity, and when you need to call someone at home, just do it through instant messengers, the same WhatsApp, for example.
If you know that there will be a lot of important incoming calls from home, then connect one of the options that we talked about earlier. There you can discuss a lot about greed, but in fact, with options, you will spend corny less money than without them.
I also can't contain my irritation about roaming innovations. Yes, operators were obliged to get rid of long-distance roaming, but this was done so clumsily and inconveniently that in the end it only got worse, and ordinary subscribers suffer.
The end of summer will be marked in MTS by another event - the abolition of intranet roaming. This will take place on August 30, 2018. The change will affect all active tariff plans of the operator. Previously, such measures were reported by Beeline and MegaFon operators, competing in who posted the press release faster. Now the cancellation of roaming will also take place for MTS subscribers, just when the summer vacation period ends. However, the velvet season is ahead, it will be possible to go on vacation and forget about paid incoming calls.
Cancellation of intranet roaming is presented in Russia as follows:
- The home region when traveling around the Russian Federation becomes the region where the subscriber is located.
- An intercity becomes a direction from the location region to any other point in Russia (including the region where the SIM card is connected).
- All incoming calls are free.
This alignment, apparently, suits not only subscribers, but also the Federal Antimonopoly Service, which is trying most of all to cancel roaming on the territory of the Russian Federation. In addition, the government of the Russian Federation has already begun consideration of the relevant bill.
There are suggestions that the abolition of roaming rates will also affect the so-called national roaming, when the phone is registered in the network of another Russian operator. This measure may lead to the abolition of expensive Crimean roaming, which causes a lot of inconvenience for vacationers and business travelers.
As for the mobile Internet, it is valid for all tariffs throughout Russia without additional surcharges. Since it is not available on some tariff plans (per megabyte billing is in effect), we recommend that you take a closer look at MTS package offers. One of them is the newest Tarifische tariff with really unlimited internet. It will offer subscribers an unlimited amount of traffic with a subscription fee of 650 rubles / month. In addition to anlim, the youngest package will include 500 SMS and 500 minutes within Russia.
The next wave of disconnection of Russian intra-network roaming in the MTS network will take place on September 30, 2018. It will affect all remaining tariff plans, including archival ones. The changes that will take place in the first wave will affect the tariffs Smart Unlimited, Smart, My Unlimited, Super MTS, My Friend, Smart NonStop, Smart Min i, Red Energy, "Super Zero", "Per Second", "Your Country", "Guest" and "X" (former "Hype").
Earlier, Russian operators decided to introduce paid incoming calls from the numbers of regions that are not related to the region of the current stay of subscribers. The decision caused a flurry of discontent and criticism from the FAS. Now paid inboxes disappear forever. There is a fly in the ointment in a barrel of honey - experts and the FSB predict an increase in prices for communication services by at least 10%.
