Wireless Broadband is the Next Big Thing in Russian Telecom Sector Development

The IKS-Consulting analytical and market research agency reports that the 61% growth rate, achieved by the Russian wireless broadband market in the first half of 2006, will most likely stay put in the second quarter of 2006.

The market size is estimated at USD 33M, representing approximately a 5% share of the total Russian Internet market, and about an 8% share of the domestic broadband market. It is expected that the current growth trend will continue and that the market will grow to USD 80M by the end of 2006, thus accounting for a 6% share of the Russian total Internet market size.

The wireless broadband networks are concentrated in the greater regions of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Most of the existing broadband networks (about 220) are built on RadioEthernet (IEEE 802.11), but from now on, the networks will be built on WiMAX.

The number of Internet users, directly connected to broadband networks - grew by 8K in the second quarter of 2006 to reach 35K in total.