Several years ago, the largest Russian provider Rostelecom launched its services on the mobile communications market. This happened as a result of the purchase of the largest provider providing its services in Russia. The main feature of the company is that it provides its services even to the most remote parts of the country. Thus, you can use home Internet or other services even in the smallest localities.
Today, Rostelecom clients have access to the following digital products:
- Access to broadband Internet through several different technologies;
- Mobile connection;
- Interactive or digital television;
- Wink online cinema;
- Subscriptions for antivirus programs, parental controls, cloud storage and Office 365;
- Video surveillance for your home or business;
- Gadgets for implementing a smart home;
- Column for managing your services using commands;
- City phone;
- Cable TV;
- Cloud gaming;
- Lyceum and audiobooks for your children;
- Public Wi-Fi networks for clients in many cities;
- And so on.
Detailed review of the mobile operator Rostelecom
, known to everyone as a major Russian Internet and cable TV provider, is also a cellular communications provider.
The virtual operator operates on the Tele2 network, just like Tinkoff Mobile and SberMobile. entered the communications market in 1993. In 2012, it merged with the regional company Utel, and in 2014 with Tele2. This article will focus specifically on the proposals of Rostelecom itself.
Let's look at the pros and cons of the operator.
Advantages
- Saving. Not a bad price/quality ratio.
- Stability and reliability.
- Free packages of instant messengers, social networks and videos.
- After exceeding the limit, it is easy to get the necessary minutes and gigabytes.
- Bonus program.
- It is very profitable if you combine the purchase with home Internet, telephone or television.
- Promotions are held frequently.
- Payment is debited only once a month.
- Unused minutes/gigabytes are carried over to the next month.
- Convenient personal account where you can configure all the necessary options.
- Beneficial for corporate clients: cellular communications can be free if you connect other services.
Flaws
- Only Rostelecom clients who are already using its services can connect.
- There are few SMS messages in the package.
- Unlimited only for messengers and social networks, otherwise traffic is limited.
- The package of messengers/social networks includes only the most popular of them: VK, Facebook, Whatsapp, Viber, Odnoklassniki, TamTam.
- To connect to online TV, you need to activate a promotional code (in the Wink application).
Coverage area
Rostelecom subscribers have access to communications throughout almost the entire country (65 regions). Since the operator operates on the Tele2 infrastructure, its coverage covers the same territory. However, the network does not catch everywhere; it is best in large cities.
Standard Features
Services
Rostelecom offers citizens packages of services. They consist of three to five options for different communication directions. Each package necessarily includes a minimum set of what you can do by purchasing a SIM card from Rostelecom:
- Call and write SMS messages in Russia and abroad.
- Have constant access to the Internet – 4G network.
- Watch mobile TV.
Additional services depend on the package you subscribe to, but each of them offers at least a minimum set of the above options.
Mobile communications are provided by Rostelecom in all regions of Russia and are also valid abroad in roaming. Since the provider is one of the most widespread in the Russian Federation, the mobile connection works perfectly even in the most remote corners of our country. Rostelecom's coverage is simply excellent. Many distant settlements use only it because there is no alternative. Other carriers don't provide as much coverage as this company.
Rostelecom Mobile user rating
Positive reviews
Clients note that the operator’s conditions are much more favorable than those of his colleagues from the Big Four. I like the quality of communication, the speed of the Internet, and also the fact that the network reaches almost everywhere (in large cities). They note the respectful attitude of call center employees towards clients. It is easy to get any information by making an SMS request. Convenient website, bonuses.
Negative reviews
Since they work on the Tele2 basis, far from large cities there are often problems with communication. You can also find reviews from residents of cities in the center of the country who complain about very weak Internet. Technical problems with connection are often noted: for example, problems with delivery, it is unknown where the money went, difficulties with activating the SIM card. Problems are resolved by technical support, but not promptly and some clients remain dissatisfied with the result. There are reviews about the incompetence and negligence of Rostelecom Mobile customer service.
Forecasts and prospects
The company expects a gradual growth of its customer base, which will result in mobile coverage of approximately 15% of existing fixed-line subscribers. At the same time, in Moscow and the Moscow region, the demand for Rostelecom SIM will be significantly lower due to the lack of 2G communications.
The economic effect for Rostelecom looks generally dubious, since a reduced fee is charged for connecting to the service package. The total revenue is divided between the virtual operator and Tele2. And experts see the main advantage for Rostelecom as a significant reduction in net outflow and a reduction in some operating expenses.
Tariffs for Rostelecom SIM cards
Let's consider the cost of services in the city of Moscow. In cities and regions, the cost of services differs. You can get acquainted with the cost of services and tariff plans in your city at the link https://rt.ru/mobile/mobile_tariff
The company's tariff plans change at least once a year. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify current information when connecting to this operator. The “SuperSimka” and “For All” tariff lines were valid until January 23, 2021; now you cannot connect to them.
"New story"
Offer includes: 200 minutes of outgoing calls, 50 SMS messages, 3 GB. mobile Internet, Wink-TV for 12 months. Subscription fee – 220 rubles. To switch to the tariff, send code 92 to short number 220.
"The Whole Story"
Outgoing limit – 400 minutes, SMS – 50 pieces, Internet traffic – 9 GB, Wink-TV. Price – 340 rub./month. Connection: code 93 to 220.
"Endless story"
500 outgoing minutes, 50 SMS, unlimited internet, 101 Wink channels. Monthly fee – 500 rubles. To connect, send code 95 to number 220.
"Family History"
One package with a total balance for five SIM cards. Outgoing calls – 600 minutes, SMS – 50 pieces, traffic – 25 GB, 101 TV channels. Price per month of use – 700 rubles. To activate, write SMS “94” to the same number.
Buy a smartphone from Rostelecom
Video: Rostelecom mobile communications: review.
Video: There is no connection in the village. Connected to ROSTELECOM!
PJSC Rostelecom has its own store where you can purchase many devices, including mobile phones. At the same time, many products have discounts and promotions. For example, in December 2020, you can buy any smartphone and receive headphones as a gift. Today Rostelecom cooperates with the following brands:
- Apple;
- Honor;
- Huawei;
- Samsung;
- Xiaomi;
- ZTE.
In addition to phones, the Rostelecom store sells accessories, home phones, smart home products, TVs and routers. You can go to the online store and view the list of products using the following link: https://shop.rt.ru/ .
Switch to “RT” with the old number
For subscribers who want to connect to Rostelecom SIM card tariffs while keeping their old number, special conditions apply. The advantage will be a 20% discount on the monthly payment valid for 6 months.
To switch, you need to make sure that the phone number is registered in your name, there is no debt on it, and also that it belongs to your region.
Review of the Internet with a Rostelecom SIM card.
With SIM card for phone
Rostelecom subscribers who want to use a SIM card only to access the Internet can activate special options:
- "500 MB+" . A one-time replenishment of five hundred megabytes will cost 50 rubles. This option is activated by default if you have used up your tariff limit and there are more than two days until the end of the month. The conditions are valid not only for some tariffs, check with the operator.
- "Internet from your phone" . 100 MB provided. for 7 rubles/day.
- "A Day on the Net" . Traffic per day – 200 MB. Cost – 16 rubles/day. Only those days on which you use the Internet are paid.
Line of “Simple Internet” tariffs for the Rostelecom SIM card:
"S" . One and a half gigabytes for 120 rubles/month.
"M" . 3 GB/month for 180 rubles.
"L" . 7 gigabytes for 270 rubles/month.
"XL" . 15 gigabytes for a month plus unlimited use of the Global Network at night. Cost – 400 rubles.
In this line, the unused balance remains with you for the next month. You can connect an additional one gigabyte for 125 rubles or 3 for 240.
With SIM card for tablet
The “Internet” tariff is suitable for different types of devices. For tablets, it offers special conditions. Monthly fee – 300 rub. The price includes 10 GB. Internet. An outgoing call within your region will cost 1.8 rubles. per minute, in Russia to RT numbers - 2 rubles, to other operators - 8 rubles, SMS - 2.5 rubles.
You can also connect to the “Simple Internet S, M, L” tariffs on your tablet, as well as a special offer – “Simple Internet on a tablet”. This includes 10 GB. per month, as well as unlimited social networks (VK, Facebook and Odnoklassniki) and Navigation (Yandex.Maps, Yandex.Transport and Yandex.Navigator).
For computer
For this type of device, the operator offers two “Simple Internet” tariff options:
- "XL" . 15 GB. traffic at 400 rub./month. Unlimited access to the Global Network at night is included.
- "2XL " 30 GB. for 650 rub. per month. Night unlimited is also included in the price.
Useful phone commands
Let's look at all the useful USSD requests that can be useful when using a Rostelecom SIM card. To date, their complete list is as follows:
- *102# — Check the status of your balance;
- *122# — Display details of recent expenses;
- *100*121# — Check all charges made to your personal account over the last month;
- *100*17# — Request a promised payment to stay in touch with a zero balance;
- *107# — Find out the current tariff plan, its conditions and subscription fee;
- *115# — Change the standard beep for incoming calls to a custom one;
- *202# — Connect to mobile Internet if you do not already use it;
- *111# — Open the menu of additional options;
- *110# — Receive a message containing your SIM card number;
- *116# — Check the number of gigabytes or megabytes remaining in your Internet package;
- *126*number*amount# - Transfer a certain amount of funds from your balance to the account of another Rostelecom client;
- *100*555*1# — Register as a participant in the bonus program;
- *123*number# - Send a request to call you back.
Roaming
- On trips around the country. The cost of a minute of an incoming or outgoing call (within Russia) is 5 rubles. SMS message to a subscriber in Russia – 3.5 rubles, to foreign operators – 5.5 rubles. Outgoing calls to the CIS countries – 30 rub./min., within Europe – 49 rub./min., to other countries – 69 rub./min. If the balance is below zero, all services are suspended, incl. incoming messages are not received. In Crimea and Sevastopol, other rates apply: 1 ruble per minute for an incoming call, 3 rubles/minute for outgoing calls within the Russian Federation.
- Abroad. Rostelecom offers the option “Internet abroad CIS and Europe”. The monthly fee is 100 rubles/day, 10 MB. the subscriber receives it free of charge per day, then 10 rubles. for 1 MB.
- Tariffs for other countries. Outgoing calls to Russia are charged depending on the country of residence. So, a minute of call from Europe will cost 15 rubles, from Asia, Africa and Australia – 35 rubles. From other countries – from 65 to 165 rubles. For information on the cost of calls from abroad to other countries, check on the operator’s website.
The same rates apply to incoming calls. You will be charged 15 rubles per minute for a call in the CIS countries and Europe, 35 rubles. – in Asia, Africa and Australia, 65 or more – in North and South America, etc.
One SMS from Europe and the CIS will cost 6 rubles, from Asia, Africa, the Americas, etc. - 12 rubles. Maximum – 29 rubles. for countries such as Iraq, Algeria, Maldives, Seychelles, Tunisia, etc. (check with your operator for more details). The same prices apply for mms. Incoming messages are free.
One megabyte of Internet traffic will cost you 25 rubles if you are in Europe or the CIS countries. For the rest of the world - from 50 to 700 rubles.
RT recommends turning off configured forwardings before your trip, as they can cause unnecessary expenses. You can do this by dialing the combination ##002#. Help desk for Rostelecom subscribers in roaming: +7(495)5395539.
Additional functions
Internet and TV
- The Social Networks package provides unlimited access to VKontakte, Facebook and Odnoklassniki. In some tariffs it is included in the price.
- "Messengers" package. Unlimited use of Viber, WhatsApp, TamTam. The daily fee is 2 rubles.
- Convert minutes to gigabytes. The service is free. You can exchange minutes from the main package or transferred from the previous month. The exchange is made under the following conditions: 1 minute - 10.24 MB, 10 minutes - 102.4 MB, 100 min. – 1 GB.
- Online TV. A subscriber who connects to a cellular connection receives 12 months of free access to 101 channels in the Wink application as a gift.
Call management
- Unlimited for RT numbers. 5 rubles per day for calls not only to the operator’s mobile numbers, but also to landline ones.
- "Simple Geography". You can make discounted calls to numbers of foreign mobile operators for 2 rubles/day. Conditions for specific countries can be found on the website rt.ru.
- Caller ID. Allows you to hide your number when calling for 3.7 rubles. per day. Guaranteed to work only on RT numbers.
SMS management
Additional 100 sms for 100 rubles per month and 300 for 200 rubles. Valid on numbers of any Russian operators.
Sim management
- Landline number. Short numbers as for landline phones for 3 rubles/day. Free for Family Story, Whole Story and NeverEnding Story plans. Convenient for remembering, can be used in advertisements.
- Replacement. If you change your number, the old tariff plan will remain with you, as well as the remaining packages and connected services. The first replacement is free, then - 50 rubles.
Please note that prices for services are indicated for Moscow; prices in other regions may vary.
We have a new generation of television that does not require connection to Rostelecom. It can work together with any providers, connecting to them with a cable or via Wi-Fi. Features, broadcast control and broadcast recording, information services on the TV screen, access to a library of films and TV series.
Current tariffs:
- “YOUR Starter 2.0” - includes a set of more than a hundred channels. Monthly payment – 320 rubles.
- “YOUR Optimal 2.0” – includes more than 135 channels. Monthly payment – 420 rubles.
- “YOUR Advanced 2.0” – includes more than 160 channels. Monthly payment – 620 rubles.
- “YOUR Maximum 2.0” – includes almost 200 channels. Monthly payment – 1700 rubles.
Movies and additional channels are paid separately.
How to connect
Becoming a subscriber to the company is not so easy - you need to use at least one of the main ones: the Internet, cable television or home telephone. If you already have any of these, you can choose one of two options:
- Leave a request on the website (home delivery is possible).
- Come to the company office.
Activation
You must pay a subscription fee to your account. The SIM will be activated after the required amount is debited. This usually takes about two hours, but sometimes the waiting time lasts up to a day.
If you purchase a device from Rostelecom, it will have a SIM with the application installed by default.
Replacing a SIM card
If you lose your SIM card, you can replace it, keeping your numbers and all connected packages and services. This can be done for free at any company office.
SIM lock
This procedure is necessary so that in the event of theft, a criminal will not be able to use your card and all the accounts associated with it. There are several ways to voluntarily block a SIM:
- From your personal account. You need to log in, and the site itself will tell you what actions to take.
- At the Rostelecom office. You just need to contact an employee and they will help you.
- Call support.
Review of promotions for the Rostelecom SIM card
A nice bonus for customers is that the company often offers discounts when purchasing multiple products. For example, at the moment there are two promotions: “For the family” and “For everything”. The first includes home Internet with antivirus and parental controls and interactive television. The cost of the set is 1120 rubles. The second option is the same, but with high-speed Internet and a large number of channels for 1,450 rubles. Mobile communication in both cases is a gift.
Helpful information
*122# — check balance;
*100*12# — package rest;
*103# — find out the current tariff;
*115# - about roaming.
Support phone number: 8800181888; 1888.
How to find out that the number belongs to Rostelecom
There is a form on the RT website that allows you to determine which cellular company owns a particular number.
How to disable sim
In case you lose your SIM card or simply decide to refuse the company’s services, do one of the following:
- Call technical support. You will need to answer the call center manager’s questions and dictate your passport details.
- At the Rostelecom office. You will also need a passport and, if the number is registered to another person, a power of attorney from him.
- In your personal account. To do this, you must be registered on the website rostelecom.ru. There are two options here: temporary and permanent blocking. In the first case, two weeks of waiting are free, for the rest you will have to pay. You can log into your personal account through the official application.
Publication date: 05/14/2019
Mobile app
Management can be carried out using your personal account on the official website. Moreover, all its functions were successfully implemented in the free mobile application. You can install it for free using the following links:
- Android (Google Play Market): My Rostelecom - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?hl=ru&id=com.dartit.RTcabinet ;
- Wink - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.rt.video.app.mobile&hl=ru&gl=US ;
- My Rostelecom - https://apps.apple.com/ru/app/id561082205 ;
