Scartel (operating under Yota trademark) is preparing to enter the Kaliningrad market. According to IP-News with reference to its own source, the operator began construction of base stations in Kaliningrad. The company has already completed designing a number of stations, construction work began, and before the summer it is scheduled to start operation of the first ten stations.

However, the source explained that at the moment the launch is mainly focused on the protection of the license, which the company has received for the region.

In terms of accumulation of the subscriber base Kaliningrad is likely to be less promising for Yota than the south of Russia, where the company came in early 2010, experts say. IkS-Consulting analyst Yelena Krylova notes that the level of penetration of fixed broadband access in the region is about 43-44%, the major market players - the North-Western Telecom (NWT) with the 60% share, "TIS-Dialogue" - 20%, VympelCom - 10%. In her opinion, based on the practice of entrance in other regions, Yota virtually does not affect the growth of penetration of the service, as connecting via Yota is most often used as a second, auxiliary option. Mrs. Krylova thinks that the company will be able to subscribe up to 6% of the total subscriber base to broadband access. But among them will still be those who regularly uses Yota as their first-choice operator.

Potential competitors in Kaliningrad know about the arrival of the new player, however, relate to this fact calmly.

We are not afraid of competition, because we are confident that LTE is the future; we do not consider WiMAX as an alternative, - said senior external communications specialist of the Kaliningrad branch of VympelCom, Yulia Petrova. - On the basis of LTE technology, subscribers not only get wireless Internet access at higher speeds, but also the smooth operation and instant response of applications.

FYI: Yota is the first network of Mobile WiMAX (wireless fast internet access 4G) in Russia, which provides Internet access at speeds up to 10 Mbps and switching between stations without disconnection. At present the network is deployed in Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as in Ufa, Krasnodar and Sochi. Yota also obtained license No. 67877 valid on the territory of Kaliningrad, Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Murmansk, and Novgorod regions, as well as in St. Petersburg, Nenetsky Autonomous District, Karelia and Komi Republic. Under the terms of licensing, the company must provide services in these regions starting May 7, 2010.

Note: this news has been prepared in English by Kaliningrad RDA [1] based on materials of rugrad.eu [2]