Moscow-Russian carrier Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) became the first Russian carrier to claim 1 million total wireless clients in the middle of November. The company said the 1 millionth client received a Siemens phone and will talk free for a year.
Most MTS clients are in Moscow. Outside the capital, the carrier has slightly more than 51,000 subscribers and is now working to expand nationwide.
In Moscow, there are currently more than 1.8 million total mobile-phone holders. Experts predict the number could increase to 3 million total users in Moscow by third-quarter 2001.
Analysts estimate there were 2.53 million mobile subscribers in Russia at the end of September. By year end, the total is expected to be 3.1 million.
