Mobile operators
Mobile operator Yota is currently a subsidiary of one of the members of the "big four" - which owns 100% of its shares. In addition, it is considered virtual, since it does not have its own equipment, but provides services using the networks of the parent company.And yet, despite rumors from time to time about the upcoming brand liquidation, Yota is still an independent company living on its own income. The Russian Federation is the main region in which this provider operates. At various times, there were attempts to enter foreign markets, including such an exotic one as Nicaragua, but by now the company's ambitions have seriously shrunk.
The set of services provided by Yota, comes down to two main areas.:
- GSM telephone connection.
- Mobile Internet in 2G/3G/4G networks.
Story
The founders of the company, which bore the name Scartel LLC, are Russian entrepreneurs Sergey Adoniev and Denis Sverdlov, who became its first head. The latter is a co-owner of KORUS Consulting and for some time held the position of Deputy Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications.The goal for which everything was started was the creation in the Russian Federation of a network operating in the then progressive WiMAX standard. The decision was made in 2006, but services did not start until two years later.
In the same 2008, sales of the corresponding equipment supporting this communication standard began: Express cards, HTC MAX 4G phone, and then, a year later, a laptop.
The Yota brand appeared in 2007. According to rumors, this name was born as a result of SMS correspondence between the founders of the company. At that time, no one even thought about providing voice communication services - it was only about creating a high-speed Internet network.
It should be said that Yota was not all right with the quality of communication. Despite the fact that, according to the specifications of the WiMAX standard, a speed of 100 Mbps is normal for this standard, in practice 20 Mbps was considered the norm, and in some areas this figure was completely miserable - 8-9 Mbps.
Therefore, an important milestone in the development was the transition in 2010 to the LTE standard. This was not a particular problem, because the frequencies used coincided with WiMAX. But with the equipment, it immediately became easier for customers: now it was enough to install the appropriate SIM card in one of the widely used gadget models.
However, it was not possible to achieve wide distribution of coverage in the regions of the country: even the opening of the network in Kazan faced administrative problems and was postponed for several months. But the company did not give up: in 2011, it entered into an agreement with the Big Three operators on the development of 4G networks in Russia.
In the same year, an attempt was made to enter the Belarusian market, in which, however, it was not possible to hold out for even a year - in the summer of 2012, the provision of services was curtailed.
Financial performance did not please the company's management, and in 2012 a deal was made with the MegaFon operator, which at that time showed an active interest in the development of fourth-generation networks. As a result of the reorganization, Scartel LLC, which owned the Yota brand, became a subsidiary of MegaFon, and already in 2013, a representative of the Big Three became the owner of 100% of the shares.
However, full absorption for a number of reasons did not happen. Moreover, the 4G networks of MegaFon and Yota were not merged, which in practice causes some inconvenience to users of the latter, since they cannot use communication services in regions for which the operator does not have the appropriate permissions.
But in the spring of 2014, the launch of a new federal mobile operator was announced, which took place a little later - in August of the same year. The company used MegaFon's equipment, and by no means for free, which had a rather negative impact on the attractiveness of tariffs.
At the same time, the head of Yota was replaced - now it was Anatoly Smorgonsky, who replaced Denis Sverdlov, who had retired. By that time, he managed to work in VimpelCom companies, Russia, and, however, he did not stay in his place for a long time - already in 2015 he left his post, giving way to Mikhail Dubinin as the head of the company.
A little later, a gradual change in the tariff policy begins. So, at the beginning of 2017, the connection of new users to tariffs with unlimited Internet traffic was stopped. Instead, a new package line was launched, in which the number of gigabytes was already limited.
Six months later, subscribers received a unique opportunity to "design" their tariff, independently determining the volume of certain services in accordance with their own needs. And at the beginning of 2018, the opportunity was opened to connect packages without voice calls, which turned out to be convenient for those who needed only the Internet.
Separately, it should be said about Yota Devices, known to us from the line of YotaPhone smartphones. In June, 2011 the division of Yota which was engaged in development of devices for mobile communication was allocated to the separate company. Over time, it has become one of the largest suppliers of equipment for 4G networks in Russia, known for its modems and routers.
Even before the separation, Denis Sverdlov, who headed Yota at that time, announced plans to create a domestic 4G smartphone, work on which continued until 2013, when the first YotaPhone entered the market.
Unfortunately, the ambitious project ended in failure: the number of sold copies of the first generation barely exceeded 30 thousand, the second - a little more than 150 thousand, and the third did not reach the Russian market, despite the announcement in August 2017: in addition For a long time, Yota Devices was controlled by the Hong Kong investment holding REX Global Entertainment, and the novelty was reoriented to the Chinese market.
As it turned out, $ 50 million in investments and healthy entrepreneurial impudence was not enough to repeat the success of or in Russian realities.
today
There is currently no official information on the size of the Yota subscriber base. For 2015 it made about 1 million users in 52 Russian regions. According to indirect data from one of the Big Four operators, 2.5 million Yota subscribers called up its subscribers.How much does this make up of the entire Russian mobile communications market? Quite a bit: in 2017, the number of users exceeded 250 million people.
Given that the subscriber base of the “weakest” member of the “big four”, Tele2, at that time amounted to 40.6 million, it becomes clear that the provider has no special prospects: in the ratings it falls into the unenviable “Other” category.
But not far off is the emergence of 5G mobile Internet, which will make Yota's 4G networks less relevant and, accordingly, reduce the company's income.
The history of the Yota operator began in 2007, when the company was founded, while the test launch of the first networks took place only in 2008. At first, WiMax technology was used, only then Iota switched to LTE technology. Today MegaFon and Iota act together, according to official information MegaFon is the parent company. Consider the results of this union and compare the current tariff plans.
In fact, Yota is MegaFon. If we dig a little deeper, we will find that in 2014 Iota took place as a virtual cellular operator. Cooperation with MegaFon, expressed in the merger of assets, took place in July 2012. Their coverage areas almost completely coincide, with the exception of some cities in which MegaFon has built LTE Band 20 networks - here Yota does not work (in 4G format).
Iota is a subsidiary of MegaFon, but it is not one company. Yota is a virtual operator using the equipment of its parent company. Therefore, the question of whose towers Yota uses is very easy to answer - Yota uses MegaFon's towers and its own towers that existed before the merger of assets. MegaFon bought Yota by buying shares in Scartel. Information slipped through the media that the Iota brand would be destroyed, but today we see that this is not the case - the daughter works as a virtual operator and belongs to the organization that bought her out. Roughly speaking, now it is almost one company, but the directions of activities of the brands are different.
Iota is MegaFon or not
Many people think that Iota and MegaFon are one and the same. This is not to say that this is not so, but the positioning of brands is still different. MegaFon remains a traditional operator, while Yota is virtual and focuses on unlimited internet. Today, this internet is only available on tablet PCs and modems/routers. Until January 25, 2017, unlimited was also on smartphones, but then it was removed.
MegaFon and Iota are almost identical in terms of coverage, but differ in billing. Therefore, it is very difficult to answer which is better - it all depends on the preferences of the subscriber. For example, if you need unlimited mobile Internet from a computer, you should not hesitate to choose Iota - MegaFon does not have full unlimited. In terms of voice quality, both operators are almost identical.
There is one more difference - MegaFon has a lot of information, entertainment and service services. The catalog contains services for making money transfers, beep connection, geolocation services, mobile subscriptions and much more. Iota does not have all this diversity, so this operator is suitable for those who do not like imposed services.
Tariff plans of MegaFon
If you need high-quality voice communication and fast Internet on your smartphone, we advise you to take a closer look at MegaFon's tariff plans. The profitable line “Turn on!” Works here, offering subscribers several tariff plans for any needs.
TP "Turn on! Chat"
Tariff "Turn on! Communicate” is a balanced offer for medium-active subscribers. For only 600 rubles / month. we receive 500 minutes of calls to any phones in the country, both mobile and landlines (including local ones), 12 GB of Internet traffic (for any needs), free traffic to mobile TV with the MegaFon package channel , as well as two films from the video archive.
Also on the tariff there is an interesting addition - this is unlimited traffic for social networks and instant messengers. It applies to the super-popular Odnoklassniki and VK, to foreign Facebook, as well as to Viber, WhatsApp and eMotion instant messengers. A cool advantage of the tariff plan is its wide coverage area - this is the whole of Russia.
TP "Turn on! Look"
Tariff "Turn on! Look" is a suggestion designed for those who love not only communication, but also video content. The subscription fee is 900 rubles / month, it includes 16 GB of total Internet traffic, unlimited YouTube and unlimited access to the above social networks and instant messengers. For chatting with friends, relatives, acquaintances and other people, 1200 minutes are allocated for a month. As a bonus - four films from their archive, as well as a package of MegaFon channels and free traffic on MegaFon TV.
The tariff plan works in domestic roaming without changing the billing.
TP "Turn on! Speak"
Tariff plan "Turn on! Speak" provides for a subscription fee of 500 rubles per month. The range of services here is quite limited - it is 600 minutes of communication in Russia, 3 GB of Internet and unlimited traffic for instant messengers. Free unlimited traffic for mobile TV is also provided, but without a package of channels - it will have to be paid separately. The tariff works throughout Russia and aimed at those who rarely use Internet services.
TP "Turn on! Listen"
We have a tariff plan for true music lovers who need nothing but music. The subscription fee is only 300 rubles per month, it includes 250 local minutes, 6 GB of traffic, special traffic for music services and instant messengers. The list of music services includes the most popular Yandex.Music, Zvooq, BOOM and Vkontakte Music. Free mobile TV is also provided with the MegaFon package. The tariff works throughout Russia, but intercity is paid separately.
TP "Turn on! Write"
Tariff "Turn on! Write" created specially for those who prefer communication in text mode but does not want to spend extra money. For 350 rubles / month. subscribers receive 350 local minutes, 200 local SMS, as well as traffic for messengers. There is also a small package of regular traffic (only 2 GB) and traffic for mobile TV. A striking drawback is that the tariff does not save home billing in roaming within the Russian Federation.
TP "Turn on! Premium»
Mega-tariff for the most talkative people and those who cannot live without mobile internet. It includes 5,000 minutes in Russia, traffic for an extended number of social networks and instant messengers (hello to Telegram and Instagram fans), access to music services, unlimited for three video hosting sites - Rutube, YouTube and Vimeo, as well as 20 GB of regular traffic. Also mobile TV with the “Basic” package works on the tariff and three channels for adults, access to four films from the archive is provided. The subscription fee is healthy - 3000 rubles / month.
Please note that on all tariff plans, after the main package of minutes is used up, on-net unlimited is activated (on the “Turn on! Write” tariff, it only applies to local MegaFon numbers).
Iota tariff plans
Let's take a look at what Iota offers us (or Eta is an erroneous, but common spelling of the operator's name). Its tariffs are divided into three categories - for smartphones, tablets and modems / routers. A single tariff plan works on smartphones, and it is very flexible. The minimum subscription fee is 370 rubles per month. - it includes 200 minutes within Russia and 2 GB of traffic. A package of 5,000 minutes and 30 GB of traffic will already cost 2,850 rubles per month.
It would be more correct to say that packages on Iota are allocated not for a month, but for 30 days - such a tricky billing.
As an add-on, the following options are connected:
- "Unlimited SMS" - 50 rubles / month;
- Messengers - 15 rubles each. each;
- Social networks - 25 rubles each. each;
- YouTube - 100 rubles.
Tariff parameters can be adjusted at any time at your discretion.
For tablet PCs, a full unlimited from Iota works. It can be paid for a day, a month or a year at once - the longer the paid period, the cheaper the connection. A day of access costs 50 rubles, a month - 500 rubles, a year - 4500 rubles. Traffic is not limited in any way, but you cannot use torrents - the speed will be cut to 64 kbps.
For computers, Iota offers full unlimited traffic. There is even a free package that runs at 64 kbps- such a snail's speed is enough for communication in ICQ, Skype, Telegram and other instant messengers in text mode. The next speed indicator is 512 kbps, it costs 400 rubles / month. For 1400 rubles / month. we get unlimited at the maximum available speed. In total, about two dozen speed gradations are provided.
Internet from Iota is also connected under the following conditions:
- 5 Mbps - 5400 rubles / year;
- 10 Mbps - 6900 rubles / year;
- Maximum speed - 9000 rubles / year;
- 2 hours of access - 50 rubles one time;
- Day of access - 150 rubles one-time.
Thus, Iota is beneficial for those who need unlimited Internet - it can be distributed from a PC to other devices.
Internet provider. Created in 2007 to provide mobile WiMax services under the Yota brand. The shareholders are Wimax Holding (33%) and Kristiva Holdings (according to a Skartel representative, controlled by Wimax Holding, 67%). 74.9% of Wimax Holding is owned by the Telconet Capital fund, and another 25.1% is owned by the Russian Technologies State Corporation. Financial indicators are not disclosed.
The fact that Sergei Adoniev is one of the owners of Skartel was told to Vedomosti by a source close to one of the Internet providers. Adoniev is a former partner of Vladimir Kekhman, owner of JFC, Russia's largest fruit importer. Adoniev confirmed to Vedomosti that he owns a minority stake in Telconet Capital, which, in turn, controls 74.9% of Scartel through Wimax Holding.
Adoniev also represents the interests of Telconet on the board of directors of Wimax Holding, a source in the state corporation Rostekhnologii, which owns the remaining 25.1% of Scartel, told Vedomosti. This was confirmed by Denis Sverdlov, CEO of Skartel. According to him, there are five seats in the board: three seats, including the chairman, are occupied by Cypriot lawyers, one by Adoniev, and one more by Sergei Kulikov, head of the office of the general director of Russian Technologies Chemezov. Adoniev does not comment on this and does not disclose his Telconet partners.
Adonyev is a multi-talented man, says Boris Belotserkovsky, president and owner of Russia's biggest slot machine manufacturer Unicum, who has known the entrepreneur for about 25 years. In business, he is more likely not an operator, but a strategist-developer, Belotserkovsky continues, he has a flair for further business development prospects.
In an interview with Vedomosti in the spring of 2009, Chemezov just said that in 2006 Sverdlov and "two more people" came to him with an idea "from the realm of fantasy" to create a WiMax operator. But "just in case" Chemezov began to support them - in particular, "Russian Technologies" helped "Skartel" with obtaining frequencies, and at the end of 2008 acquired a blocking stake in the company.
In 2008, Skartel representatives reported that Telconet directed $300 million to develop the operator's infrastructure and purchase equipment. In 2009, Telconet invested another $170 million for the further development of Scartel in Moscow, St. Petersburg and six other cities. By the end of October, the company's subscriber base exceeded 200,000 people, and the operator reached self-sufficiency.
Another $20 million was invested by Scartel in a DVB-H mobile television network in Moscow, which was recently launched into test operation by its subsidiary Centaur. In three years, Scartel is going to become a federal operator, covering 180 cities with its network. According to iKS-Consulting analyst Konstantin Ankilov, depending on the density of the network, this could cost another $1.5-2 billion. In addition to Russia, Skartel owns WiMax licenses in Belarus, Nicaragua and Peru. In Belarus, Yota Bel's pilot network is scheduled to be launched in the second half of 2010. The network in Nicaragua will be built by Yota de Nicaragua, which is 75% owned by Wimax Holding (the remaining 25% is owned by local investors). The network is scheduled to be put into commercial operation in mid-2010.
A new player has appeared - Yota. For a long time, this corporation was known as a provider of wireless Internet access. The range of services of the new operator includes all those services that are in demand today, that is, voice communication, SMS, as well as access to the network. The latter is characterized by unlimitedness, and in absolutely real terms. If the tariffs of other cellular operators apply a restriction on traffic in excess of the prepaid volume, then Yota does not use this approach, at least now. What chances does a mobile operator as young as Yota have to gain a foothold in the Russian market? What kind of reviews prevail? How is using Yota services especially beneficial for subscribers?
Access to the market
The new mobile operator Yota actually entered the market in August 2014. Issuance of SIM-cards under this brand began in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladimir, Tula and Far Eastern cities: Vladivostok and Khabarovsk. Interestingly, users could apply for SIM cards in advance through a mobile application. At the same time, Yota ("mobile operator") announced its new status back in April. Prior to this, for many years this organization was mainly engaged in the provision of wireless Internet access services. Activities in this direction are still being carried out by the company: it sells branded modems of the appropriate type. Therefore, in order to accurately distinguish between the two main types of services provided by the organization (mobile Internet and cellular communications), we will refer to the company in our article as "Yota-mobile operator". In turn, if we are talking only about the mobile Internet, we will call the company "Yota-provider".
The company plans to ensure the presence of the brand as a provider of cellular services in all regions of Russia. which was determined by Yota, a mobile operator, by iPad, iPhone and Android enthusiasts. That is, those people who are accustomed to using it We also note that Yota can be conditionally considered an independent player in the cellular communications market. The fact is that this organization is a subsidiary of MegaFon. At the same time, as some analysts believe, the Yota-mobile operator can still "recapture" the Yota-mobile operator from other largest corporations in the segment ("MTS" and "Beeline").
Basic rates
The tariff policy of the new cellular communication provider is rather young. For example, at the time of entering the market, the company made it possible to use only one tariff, including 300 minutes of calls, unlimited Internet and any number of SMS for 750 rubles per month. Those offered by Yota-mobile operator, the tariffs today mainly differ in the number of just calls to phones. That is, there is a "basic" monthly payment of 300 rubles, it guarantees unlimited Internet. In turn, you can pay extra and get an unlimited number of SMS for use. The minimum surcharge for voice calls is 140 rubles (100 minutes), the maximum is 990 (1200 minutes).
Restrictions
Note that the SIM card from the new mobile operator is only suitable for smartphones, tablets and cell phones. You cannot connect it to a PC; you can use a modem from a Yota provider to access the Internet.
Devices in which the SIM card released by the Yota mobile operator, w3bsit3-dns.com type, will be fully functional. Also, with the help of mobile devices with a SIM card from Yota, you cannot "distribute" the Internet in Wi-Fi mode. Some experts note that if the provider detects violations in the use of the SIM card, then the speed of access to the network can be reduced to 32 kbps. However, it is not entirely clear how this will be implemented in practice.
However, the company will introduce a similar restriction if it is discovered that the owner of the mobile device uses, for example, "torrents", or large files are downloaded. Unlike determining the fact of distribution of Wi-Fi, Yota should not have problems with fixing requests for trackers. If there are no violations on the part of the user, then access to the network is guaranteed at a decent speed through the 4G standard and, moreover, unlimited.
Connection
How to connect to the services offered by Yota-mobile operator? There are two main ways. A SIM card from this communication service provider can be ordered through the company's website or use a mobile application. The ordered SIM-card will be delivered by a courier. You can also pick it up at the points of issue, the address of which will be displayed in the application. If customers encounter difficulties in using the services, the Yota-mobile operator will send the settings through its support service, they are necessary for the correct operation of SIM cards. At the same time, the emphasis is on the interaction of the relevant structure of the supplier with customers through online channels, for example, via chat.
Reviews
Yota-mobile operator reviews of experts and users are very different. They can be conditionally classified into three categories. The first characterize the quality of communication services. The second is the pricing policy of the company. Third, the market prospects of the new operator. Regarding the reviews of the first type, we can say that in general they are positive. And this is not surprising, since Yota largely uses MegaFon's infrastructure, which is probably not inferior in terms of manufacturability to that used by other operators. Regarding prices, the opinions of users and experts are different.
Premium product
Yota-mobile operator offers tariffs mainly for customers in the premium segment. Since, with a simple comparison of them, even with those that Megafon has, their benefit is not so obvious. Moreover, there are marked restrictions in using the Internet. There is another point of view, according to which the tariffs from Yota are quite fair. The fact is that not every operator can get truly unlimited Internet for a monthly fee of 300 rubles per month (if you do not violate the rules for its use, it has no restrictions on traffic, speed, etc.).
Many users, by the way, are impressed by the sales channel organized by Yota-mobile operator. Customer reviews say that courier delivery is convenient. You can order a SIM card anywhere in the city, at home, at work.
Coating
How effectively is the new operator ready to serve subscribers in terms of coverage area? It all depends, first of all, on the communication technology used. Of course, Yota-mobile operator provides 2G and 3G coverage almost everywhere, if we talk about the cities where the company operates.
Another thing is when it comes to the latest technologies based on 4G. In this case, the one that the Yota-mobile operator guarantees, the coverage area is distributed, even if we talk about Moscow, not always evenly. At the same time, to meet the basic needs of using the Internet, there are enough resources that the 3G standard includes. Given that Yota customers do not want to download large files, the practical need for speeds above 3-4 Mbps, which gives 3G, may not be high.
Marketing
Actually, the reviews that characterize the market prospects of a new provider of cellular services can be discussed separately. There is an opinion that Yota, in particular, is not quite effective in terms of engaging sales channels. As we have already said, distribution of SIM cards is carried out by ordering through the website and delivery by courier or using points of issue. This is not the most optimal path chosen by the Yota-mobile operator, the reviews of the employees of some analytical agencies are sustained in this tone. The fact is that in order to win a significant market share, a company needs to win a target group of customers of 10 million people, this requires larger distribution channels, such as, for example, retail brand networks.
Sales Innovation
There are also experts who believe that the resources chosen by Yota for the distribution of SIM-cards, in fact, are revolutionary in their own way. The fact is that when using standard channels, in particular, networks of retail brands, the cost of attracting a client is about 500-700 rubles, and this is usually a minimum. If you use the services of a courier, then the figure is reduced by about half. Another thing is that the dynamics of distribution in this case is lower. However, it is reasonable to assume that Yota will use innovative distribution methods only at the very beginning of the business, using standard, albeit more expensive channels, if necessary.
Will the internet be unlimited?
There is an opinion that over time, Yota, which announces its readiness to provide Internet access services in a completely unlimited format, will move to a model that may include restrictions. Now this mobile operator, due to a fairly small number of users (when compared with the number of subscribers of the same Megafon and other Big Three companies), can provide unlimited online access without any nuances (except for restrictions on downloading "torrents") . There are experts who believe that there are no objective prerequisites for this. At least for the reason that the average Russian mobile Internet user downloads about 3-5 gigabytes of files and data per month.
The user doesn't need much.
This volume is generally guaranteed in the "standard" tariff plans of other mobile operators, but within the framework of prepaid traffic and for the same 300 rubles per month. Probably, experts believe that, firstly, Yota has no particular reason to expect that in the segment where the company will provide services, the average monthly traffic volume will increase significantly relative to 3-5 gigabytes (especially given the restrictions on "torrents" and files large size), and secondly, technology is still developing. And therefore, the potential load on the server may not be so critical as to deviate from the policy of providing unlimited access to the Internet.
Market segments
We said above that Yota is likely to focus on premium customers. That is, those who may be willing to overpay for additional communication services, provided they use unlimited Internet. At the same time, there is a version that the range of clients of the new operator will also be replenished with those who are used to average-priced tariffs. This can be facilitated, for example, by Yota's favorable roaming policy.
All calls between subscribers of this operator are now free throughout Russia. In addition, according to some experts, unlimited SMS for 50 rubles is quite a competitive price even against the background of "standard" tariffs from other operators. SMS has not yet gone out of fashion, despite the fact that online messengers are gaining more and more popularity. True, experts find it difficult to say, analyzing the prospects for the business model offered by Yota-mobile operator, when exactly the company will master new target groups of customers.
Yota - a competitor of "MegaFon"?
Can Yota be considered a direct competitor of MegaFon, despite the fact that it is a subsidiary of one of the leading Russian operators? Experts believe that this is not the case. There are completely radical versions on this score. According to one of them, MegaFon is not interested in the success of the new business implemented by Yota. The mobile operator (reviews of some analysts, at least, contain such assumptions) did not appear on the market in order to select some of the clients of the holding, of which it is an integral part. Most likely, experts believe, this is due to the desire of the management of an innovative company to get used to niches that are fundamentally new for the Russian cellular market.
There is a version that Yota was forced to develop unusual distribution channels for SIM-cards to a certain extent because Megafon did not provide the company with a resource in the form of its own dealer network.
Yota and retail chains
There is also an opinion that the mobile operator can use this opportunity in the future. But for now, as testified by the reviews and reviews left by experts regarding the activities carried out by the Yota-mobile operator, reviews on thematic portals, the company is trying to negotiate with dealers of the level of Euroset and Svyaznoy. Therefore, even if the holding does not give the go-ahead to launch the dealer network, Yota will have a spare resource. Although the resource possessed by the Yota mobile operator allows you to connect fairly quickly, and it is not at all necessary for a potential client to look for other options, such as going to the office of a retail brand.
There are several large mobile operators in Russia, which, in fact, have divided the market among themselves. These are such well-known "giants" of the industry as MTS, Megafon, Tele2, Beeline. It is rather difficult for a new and little-known company that enters the market to gain a foothold here due to strong competition. This can be done only with the help of customer loyalty and carefully thought-out tariff plans that attract with their affordability.
So did the Yota operator, reviews of which we will publish in this article. In addition, we will tell you the basic information about this company - its history, methods of capturing the market and tariff plans that it offers to its customers.
History and general information
If you have not heard of such a company, then Yota (reviews confirm that many customers did not know about the existence of such an operator) is a relatively young player in the Russian telecommunications market. It was founded in 2007 through an investment by Scartel LLC (the legal entity that owns the Yota brand) and Megafon OJSC (a major mobile operator, everyone probably knows him). Thus, a holding has turned out, which is engaged in the management of a relatively new mobile operator.
Despite the fact that the company, one might say, is a newcomer to the industry, Yota communication (reviews from the group's representatives confirm this) is distributed in 48 regions of Russia. We are talking about signal transmission in the format of 4G networks that support the distribution of high-speed mobile Internet. According to the official information of the operator, back in 2014, among Yota subscribers, whose reviews we will partially give below, there were more than 1.2 million Russians. This is despite the fact that the first launch of the network took place quite recently - at the end of the summer of 2010. Agree, for a mobile company this is a very rapid development!
main feature
The question arises how the operator Yota, which we will publish user reviews below, was able to overcome such a high threshold in terms of the number of subscribers in such a short time. We can say right away that advertising and the right PR campaign played a certain share in this matter. But do not forget that the costs of other leading operators for media promotion are enormous. It is very difficult to overtake MTS, Megafon and Beeline in the eyes of the consumer! And here we come to the main feature that Yota (mobile operator) has. Reviews indicate that all Internet packages available to subscribers are offered with unlimited traffic. That is, unlike competing companies, Yota does not allocate a fixed number of megabytes available for use. The subscriber can use wireless high-speed online access for as long as he needs. Agree, this can not but bribe. Of course, each subscriber will think about whether he should switch to the service of this company.
Services
In addition to the Internet, Yota (reviews confirm this) has other services in its arsenal, the terms of which look tempting compared to other companies. In particular, these are calls both to the numbers of your operator and to the phones of other companies, as well as SMS messages. This package is a classic for any mobile operator, but the conditions for receiving services here are really more favorable than in the plans of competitors.
Internet for smartphone
Of course, one of the main advantages of the company is the Internet, due to which subscribers use its services. At Yota, the Internet (reviews repeatedly confirm this) is provided in unlimited quantities. If we talk about connecting for a smartphone, then its cost is 300 rubles per month. This is the basis for the tariff that the subscriber chooses. Other services are provided as options - the ability to get minutes for calls, SMS, and more.
For tablet
The Internet connection for a tablet computer is more diverse here - the client can choose one of three tariff plans - this is noted even by the reviews left about Yota. The provider's mobile network is able to provide a connection at a speed of 1 Mbps per second at a price of 390 rubles, 3 Mbps - 590 and at "maximum speed" (as indicated in the tariff description) for 790 rubles per month. Since this is a service for a tablet computer, minutes for calls, as well as SMS messages, are not provided according to the terms of the plan.
For computer
Finally, the third tariff is the "Internet for Computer" plan. The conditions here are different from those mentioned above. Firstly, the connection is made through the Yota modem, reviews of which, again, we will leave in the end. Secondly, the tariff constructor allows the user to independently determine the speed at which the connection will be established. Several steps are provided here at once: the minimum is a speed of 512 kbps. at a price of 400 rubles / month, and the maximum - a tariff worth 1400 rubles per month of use. It also provides a speed of 15 Mbps at a price of 1350 rubles.
If the subscriber cannot decide which Internet to choose from Yota, the reviews note that the company makes concessions and provides an opportunity to conduct a test drive. Also, as indicated on the official website, it is allowed to change the tariff at any time.
mobile connection
As we indicated above, in addition to the Internet, the operator is engaged in the provision of mobile services. It is available, of course, only as part of the “for smartphone” tariff plan, and the subscriber can choose the volume of the service provided in the same way as the Internet - using a special constructor on the site. If you believe him, then 100 minutes for calls to other operators within Russia cost 140 rubles, and 1200 minutes - 1290 rubles. The user can choose between 300, 600 and 900 minutes (prices change accordingly).
Another option is to connect unlimited SMS messages. The service is available for 50 rubles. Thus, after the subscriber finally selects all the options and additions that interest him, he will be provided with the total cost of services that must be paid. The minimum is 440 rubles per month.
Smartphone YotaPhone2
We know that Yota is a mobile operator. Reviews also note that the company is developing smartphones. The well-known Yota phone, it turns out, is not just a “namesake”, but a product of the operator to which this article is dedicated. A device equipped with two screens - touch and "ink" (the so-called "electronic ink" technology is used - you can see it on portable books-readers). The first serves to perform the functions of a smartphone (by the way, the Android operating system is installed here). The second is an indicator of charging, hours, missed calls, SMS and other important functions. With it, you can also read books without harm to your eyesight.
YotaPhone2 can be purchased at the operator's sales points, which can also be found in your city (they are available throughout the country). The cost of the device on the official website is indicated within 36 thousand rubles (for the white version) and 34 for the black one. You can also purchase accessories for the device here.
Yota modems
In addition to a mobile phone of its own design, the company also sells modems at reduced prices for its subscribers. The choice in the company's catalog is quite wide - you can buy just a USB modem for receiving a signal using a computer (about a thousand rubles), or a WiFi router that connects to a 4G network and distributes the Internet to nearby devices. The cost of such a model reaches 4-6 thousand rubles, depending on the capabilities and throughput.
Here, for example, there is a Yota Many modem. Reviews about it show that this is a device that receives a wireless signal and is able to distribute it to 8 computers (tablets or phones) at the same time. Its cost is 4900 rubles. By purchasing this model, you can significantly save on Internet costs by sharing traffic with your neighbors, for example.
As customer reviews show about the Yota Many device, you can order the device on the official website of the company, or at the official point of sale.
How to connect?
If you have read the information about the tariff plans of this operator and want to connect, it is very easy to do so. It is enough to purchase a starter package at one of the subscriber service points - at least, this is how the reviews about Yota show. Mobile communication with this operator is really inexpensive, while the quality of services is at its best. So why not join in this case?
