Cellular companies in Crimea. How does mobile communication work in Crimea: the best offers and tariffs for vacationers
Several years have passed since Crimea joined Russia, but the “big four” Russian cellular operators are in no hurry to “cover” the peninsula with their networks. Crimea is increasingly becoming a vacation destination for Russians, and therefore the portal site decided to tell you which cellular communications are best to use on the peninsula so that roaming “doesn’t hit your pocket.”
How can any Russian save on calls and the Internet when traveling around Crimea? What is better - to connect roaming options to your operator or to purchase a SIM card from a local telecom operator for the duration of your vacation? Let's figure it out.
Today, four local operators provide cellular communications on the peninsula: WinMobile, Wave Mobile, Krymtelecom, Sevmobile and one of the Big Four operators – MTS. Let's consider the most popular and favorable rates for tourists. Let's take into account that we will occasionally need to make calls both “home” and throughout Crimea (on average 8 minutes a day), as well as actively use instant messengers, social networks and “surf” the Internet ( 3 GB traffic).
It is worth noting that in Crimea you can legally buy MTS SIM cards with any tariff plan. In this case, SIM cards will be registered in the Krasnodar Territory, but Crimea will not be considered a roaming region for them. According to unofficial data, MTS in Crimea belongs to the region “Krasnodar Territory and the Republic of Adygea”.
MTS has a fairly extensive line of tariff plans, but the new recently launched tariff with a subscription fee is most suitable for our needs 330 rub./month. with a range of services from 5 GB mobile internet, 300 minutes to all numbers in Crimea and Krasnodar Territory and 300 SMS messages.
According to our data, MTS provides communication services throughout the Crimean peninsula.
Volna Mobile (KTK Telecom LLC)
KTK Telecom LLC operates under the Volna Mobile brand. The company's 4G network covers only some areas of Simferopol (including the airport), Sevastopol, Yalta, Foros, Sanatorium, Alushta and Kerch. 2G and 3G networks are available almost everywhere. A detailed coverage map can be found on the operator’s website.
"Volna Mobile" offers everything - "Sea", "Sun" and "Wind". Considering our needs (3 GB and 8 minutes per day), the best option for us would be the tariff.
Tariff "Sea" package, and for a subscription fee in 150 rub./month. we get 300 minutes calls to all numbers in Crimea and the Krasnodar Territory, as well as 3 GB mobile internet. Calls within Russia - 3 rubles/min. At the end of the main traffic package, Internet access becomes free, but at a speed of 32 Kbps. However, you can connect (*502*1#) an additional 1 GB of traffic for 50 rubles under the “Extend 1 GB speed” option.
"Win mobile" (LLC "K-telecom")
Win Mobile 4G is available only in some areas of Simferopol, Sevastopol, Yalta, Alushta and Kerch. 3G and 2G networks are available almost throughout the entire peninsula, with the exception of mountainous and sparsely populated steppe areas. A detailed coverage map can be found on the operator’s website.
Calls using the “Offshore” tariff will cost us 3 rub. in a minute conversation, while the operator has a single tariff for both outgoing calls in Crimea and throughout Russia. Mobile Internet at the “At Sea” tariff is provided in packages 100 MB for 10 rubles. for every. The first 90 days from the moment the number is activated monthly fee 0 rub.
State Unitary Enterprise of the Republic of Kazakhstan "Krymtelecom"
The big disadvantage of Krymtelecom is lack of 4G networks. The operator provides communication services only in 2G and 3G networks, while 3G networks are available only in some large cities. A detailed coverage map can be found on the operator’s website.
Among the tariff line of Krymtelecom, it is worth paying attention to - “Contact”, “Super Contact” and “My Crimea”.
For a holiday in Crimea, only a package tariff is suitable for us, which includes 5 GB Internet, unlimited calls to Krymtelecom numbers and 100 SMS. A minute of conversation with other operators on the peninsula will cost 1.5 rub., and calls to other regions of Russia cost 5 RUR/min.
"SevMobile" (LLC "SevTelecomSvyaz")
Mobile operator "SevMobile" provides communication services only in Sevastopol and nearby settlements. The operator's connection only works in 2G and 3G networks.
We do not recommend connecting to SevMobile while on vacation in Crimea, unless you are going to vacation exclusively in Sevastopol and the surrounding area, since the company does not have its own base stations in other regions of Crimea.
Let's consider how much cellular communications will cost for subscribers of the Big Four - Beeline, MegaFon, MTS and Tele2. What options can you connect to save on mobile communications in Crimea?
PJSC Mobile TeleSystems (MTS)
Only MTS considers Crimea to be the same region as other constituent entities of the Russian Federation - albeit unofficially. The operator provides communication services in Crimea at uniform national roaming rates.
MTS subscribers vacationing in Crimea can activate the option “Everywhere is like home” and prices for calls, internet and SMS will be the same as in your home region. However, connecting the option is worth it 30 rub., and you will have to pay a subscription fee of 7 rub./day.
PJSC VimpelCom (Beeline brand)
Beeline is so far the only one of the Big Four operators who significantly increases the cost of communication services for its subscribers when traveling to Crimea.
From December 14, 2017, Beeline has an affordable tariff plan for subscribers of all tariff plans on trips to Crimea and Sevastopol - the cost of 1 minute of conversation and 1 SMS message is now only 2 rubles.
The cost of the first three megabytes per day is provided at the same price - 2 rubles per 1 MB traffic, after which the subscriber will be connected to the package 110 MB for 200 rubles(1.8 rubles per 1 MB), after which subsequent traffic is also charged at 2 rubles per 1 MB.
PJSC MegaFon
Mobile operator MegaFon provides the opportunity to connect the option "Crimea", with which everything inbox becomes free, outgoing to Russian numbers – 4 RUR/min, SMS to Russian numbers – 3 rubles/pcs, and Mobile Internet – 5 RUR/MB.
The option is free to connect, but has a subscription fee - 15 rub./day.
OO "T2 RTK Holding" (Tele2 brand)
By default, all incoming and outgoing calls will cost 5 RUR/min, SMS – 3.5 rubles, Internet – 5 RUR/MB. However, if you receive a lot of incoming calls, we recommend enabling the option “It’s like home in Crimea”, with which everything inboxes will be free, and the remaining parameters will remain unchanged.
It is worth considering that the “Like at home in Crimea” option has a subscription fee - 6 RUR/day, but its connection costs 30 rub.
We have presented you with the most economical communication options when traveling to Crimea. The conclusions are not comforting - no one is going to cancel roaming yet. Using the Internet and communicating on the phone while roaming is still very expensive, unless of course you are a Beeline subscriber.
Until recently, only one operator operated in the republic - K-Telecom (brand -Win-mobile), which received the network of the Crimean representative office of MTS-Ukraine. Now he has a competitor in the person of Krymtelecom.
The lack of competition in the field of mobile communications prompted us to start building our own network,” said Vladimir Drozdenko, director of the State Unitary Enterprise Krymtelecom. - Currently, 128 3G base stations cover 15 cities - this is approximately two-thirds of the population of Crimea. In the near future we will put into operation another 300 base stations. As a result, we want to get a carpeted peninsula, which will be provided by at least 600 base stations.
To make the network work, the operator had to work hard. The nationalized base stations of the Ukrainian companies Kyivstar and Trimob (Ukrtelecom) transferred to him were inoperative. When leaving, the Ukrainian companies released a system virus into the network, blocking the operation of the equipment. And during the downtime, the stations were also looted. Chinese manufacturers helped return the network to working condition.
Thanks to Chinese manufacturers and our agreements, it was possible to supply compatible equipment from Huawei and restore the network,” said Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan Dmitry Polonsky.
According to the head of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sergei Aksenov, the launch of the new mobile operator Krymtelecom is a significant step forward in the development of the mobile communications market, which will improve its quality and capabilities.
It is no secret that many people in Crimea now complain about the quality of communication: interruptions in conversations when the interlocutor cannot be heard, numerous attempts to get through, interference. I am confident that Krymtelecom will solve these problems and will be able to provide services at the highest level,” he emphasized.
Despite the fact that Krymtelecom is a state-owned company, it is not promised any special concessions. Yes, they won’t be needed, because it, as a multifunctional operator providing not only mobile and fixed-line communication services, as well as Internet access, has the opportunity to attract subscribers with favorable tariffs.
We have developed an interesting tariff line,” said Vladimir Drozdenko. - All tariff plans are united by the fact that within the Krymtelecom network, outgoing and incoming calls will be free. Calls to fixed-line numbers, as well as from a fixed number to a mobile phone, will also be free.
The next event in the KFO telecom market will be the introduction into commercial operation of the network of the new Sevastopol mobile operator "Sevmobile", which is still undergoing testing.
“We have built a practically new network using 3G technology, which can easily be converted to 4G technology,” said Rostislav Gromov, director of the state-owned enterprise Sevtelecom. - The equipment was supplied by the Chinese companies ZTI and Huawei - leaders in their segment of activity.
The capacity of the base stations allows servicing 500 thousand subscribers. If the needs are higher, they will be technically re-equipped.
In accordance with the investment agreement, we must contribute 200 million rubles within four months. The lion's share of this amount will go to pay for new equipment. And by the end of the year we will be required to contribute another 120 million rubles to the development of the project,” said Nikolai Konkin, General Director of Sevtelekomsvyaz. - Part of the funds will go to cover operating costs in the first months of the project. We expect to receive profit from the project in the third year of operation of the Sevmobile mobile operator.
Sevmobile, like Krymtelecom, expects to become attractive to subscribers due to the cost of its services and special offers.
The monthly subscription fee will include an unlimited number of minutes to other numbers of our operator and to Sevtelecom fixed-line numbers,” Konkin said. - In addition, calls to mobile phones from landline phones will be free. Another innovation is that you can call a city Sevastopol number without dialing the city code using six digits.
Crimea became Russian territory not long ago, and so far mobile operators are not working like in other regions. Perhaps this is due to sanctions or there are other restrictions. Using popular instant messengers on your smartphone, you can freely communicate with your family, but you cannot leave the Wi-Fi zone to do this. Therefore, in order to stay in touch at any time, you will have to use the services of Russian or local operators.
What kind of cellular communication is there in Crimea?
Much to the regret of vacationers, Beeline, Megafon and Tele-2 do not work on the peninsula. In order to use your own SIM card, you will have to pay for roaming services.
MTS is the most common operator in Crimea
Both vacationers and local residents use its services. Its advantage is inexpensive tariffs and availability. You can purchase the card in online stores or from your own hands. MTS salons are located only in Sevastopol or Simferopol. You can order additional services from the operator for your home region and throughout the country.
Most often, vacationers choose the MTS Smart Unlimited tariff, which includes unlimited Internet, 200 minutes and 200 cm per month. It is not necessary to buy a SIM card in Crimea; you can purchase it in any city and activate this tariff upon arrival. When you return home, you can change it to any convenient one.
Crimean companies providing mobile communications
Three local companies are trying to take the lead, but local youth have two SIM cards installed in their phones: MTS and Win mobile. For some users, one number is enough, usually MTS.
The operator Win mobile (formerly called K-telecom) has developed a favorable tariff for visitors “At Sea”. Incoming calls are free, outgoing calls within Russia are 3 per minute, 100 MB of Internet for 10 rubles. You can order the “Big Country” option and use daily free 60 minutes on the network, all calls within Russia are 2.95 per minute. To use the Internet using the Fast and Furious tariff, 15 GB will cost 400 rubles.
Wave with the sea tariff offers for 150 rubles per month 300 free minutes per month in the Crimea and Krasnodar Territory
Tariffs for outgoing calls in Russia are 3 rubles per minute. 10 GB of mobile Internet for 300 rubles per month can be ordered in the “Wind” tariff.
Krymtelecom is not the most profitable choice for communication outside the peninsula. The cost of an outgoing call within Russia is 5 rubles, 30 minutes per day are given free of charge within the network (after 0.2 rubles per minute), in the region 1.5. A package of 10 GB of Internet costs 200 rubles.
The “My City” tariff from the Sevmobile operator is 180 rubles per month. It includes unlimited calls and messages within the network, 90 minutes within the region, outgoing calls within the country are charged 3 rubles per minute. Internet package 300 rubles for 10 GB.
Mobile Internet on the Crimean Peninsula
MTS - when activating the Super Bit service, the user receives 3 GB per month for 10 rubles per day.
The local operator TELE2 offers 5 rubles per 1 MB when activating the “Like at home in Crimea” option.
The most favorable tariffs for using the Internet are from the Win mobile operator. It is a leader both in terms of coverage quality and favorable tariffs for locals and visitors. Some users prefer to use mobile Internet while roaming, mainly MTS subscribers. There are no complaints about the connection quality. If there is no Internet, you need to restart the device.
In general, large Russian and local operators are actively working to improve communications in Crimea; perhaps soon vacationers will not have to purchase SIM cards for the duration of their vacation.
Video: mobile communications in Crimea. Which operator did we choose?
Beeline subscribers who are planning to visit the Republic of Crimea or Sevastopol in 2019 are wondering: is there Beeline roaming in Crimea or not, and how much do calls and Internet cost in this region? The mobile operator has prepared many surprises for its subscribers, which will be a pleasant surprise for those planning a trip to the peninsula this year.
Tariffs for calls and Internet Beeline in Crimea
When asked whether Beeline works in Crimea, you can confidently answer “Yes, it works,” but with a small reservation. Officially, there is no operator network in the region, but under an agreement with the K-Telecom company, national roaming is provided to Beeline subscribers on preferential terms and the cost of services differs from not very much.
Below in the table are indicated tariffs for voice calls and SMS when located in the territory of the Republic of Crimea. The cost is the same for all Beeline users, regardless of the connected tariff and is not included in the subscription fee of package tariff plans.
Internet access cost calculated as follows: the first 3 MB per day - 2.03 rubles. per megabyte, then the subscriber will be connected to 110 MB at a price of 203.39 rubles per day. If the Internet package is completely used up, further billing will be made at a price of 2.03 rubles/MB until 23:59:59 of the current day.
When traveling to Crimea, you must take into account that intranet roaming is provided by K-Telecom, so the services “”, “”, “” and others do not work in this region. Internet packages included in the tariff are also not valid, so if you do not plan to use the Internet, it is better to disable mobile data transfer in your phone settings.
How to activate roaming?
Communication services are available to all subscribers initially and there is no need to connect anything additional - upon entering the territory of the peninsula, the phone will automatically register in the K-Telecom network. Depending on the phone model, the network name on the screen will display “WIN” or “25032” instead of “Beeline”.
If registration does not take place automatically, you will need to turn off and turn on the phone or register in the operator’s network manually. To do this, select one of the above from the list of available networks.
How profitable is it to call to Crimea?
The problem of communicating with loved ones who went on vacation to Crimea is no less acute than calling home from there. In this case, there is no need to worry - all outgoing calls to the territory of the peninsula are charged in accordance with the basic conditions of calls within Russia.
If you have questions about payments, tariffs or service from the territory of the Republic, the easiest way is to call 8-800-700-0611 or +7-495-797-2727.
Traveling to Crimea makes cellular network subscribers nervous. The thing is that there are no Russian cellular operators there; they (let's hope - yet) do not work there. A SIM card for Crimea should provide inexpensive communication services when located on the territory of the peninsula. And our experts decided to find the best option.
The summer of 2018 is just heating up, the air and sea water temperatures in Crimea are constantly rising. It's time to jump in the car and go on vacation. But will the SIM card installed in the phone work in Crimea? It will, but not on the most favorable terms - they are described in our review.
Crimean tariffs from MTS
Apparently, MTS does not consider Crimea a legitimate part of Russia - and this is sad. Because attempts to find out the cost of calls and mobile Internet while on the territory of the republic led to nothing. The “Roaming” section on the official website is silent; searching for information on other pages did not yield any information.
Having already written this article, we learned from user comments that MTS provides fairly good communication conditions in Crimea. The comments themselves say this:
Arkady, June 14, 2018 MTS is complete nonsense. 100 rubles all over Russia+ and you use your package just like at home. Checked personally. So MTS is the cheapest in Crimea.
Nikolay, June 18, 2018 MTS has additional services Home package Russia and Home package Russia+. Communication conditions are the same as in the home region. For the first package 15 rubles. per day when making calls and using mobile Internet, for the second package - 100 rubles. per month. I think it’s clear that it’s beneficial to use the Home Package Russia service for a short-term stay in Crimea, and the Home Package Russia+ service for a long stay, well, at least 2-3 weeks
For the sake of experiment, we went to the MTS salon and bought a SIM card with a smart tariff and the “Home package Russia+” option. The manager assured us that in Crimea the connection would work the same as in the home region and no additional expenses would be required. One of these days one of our employees will go to the peninsula on vacation and test MTS communications.
Offer from Beeline
The best prices are available from local mobile operators in Crimea. But many subscribers do not want to change their number. Beeline has prepared uniform prices for them. Incoming calls are charged at 2 rubles/min, outgoing calls within Russia – 2 rubles/min, SMS – 2 rubles/piece. The Internet is more expensive than MTS - the first three megabytes per day cost 3 rubles, then a package of 110 MB worth 200 rubles is activated. After it is exhausted, the cost of traffic is 2 rubles/MB. There are no modifier options on Beeline.
What MegaFon will offer
Among all Russian cellular operators, MegaFon turned out to be the most generous. If you go to Crimea, then only with him. MegaFon SIM cards are suitable for both the Internet and calls. Current rates:
- Incoming calls from Crimean numbers are free, any other numbers are 2 rubles/min.
- Calls to mobile and landline Russian numbers – 2 rubles/min.
- Outgoing SMS within the Russian Federation – 2 rubles/piece.
- Internet – 2.2 rub/MB.
The Internet is not the most profitable, but its cost is easily reduced by the “Internet in Crimea” option. For just 99 rubles you get a 60 MB package. This is enough for communicating on social networks and even making calls via instant messengers.
The “Crimea” option opens up an alternative tariff plan for subscribers. The subscription fee is 15 rubles/day, all incoming calls are free. But the cost of other services is skyrocketing - calls within Russia will cost 4 rubles/min, mobile Internet – 5 rubles/MB, sending SMS – 3 rubles/piece. MegaFon will offer its subscribers another option - “Unlimited incoming calls in Crimea”, the subscription fee for which is 30 rubles / day. Incoming calls become free, but the base cost of other services remains unchanged.
Offer from Tele2
Oddly enough, this operator turned out to be the most expensive. Although everything should have been exactly the opposite. The cost of 1 MB of traffic in Crimea will be 3 rubles, outgoing calls are charged at 3 rubles/min. Inboxes cost only 1 rub/min – less than competitors. Sending a text message to any phone in the Russian Federation costs 3 rubles.
For the Internet, we recommend the useful option “Unlimited Internet in Crimea.” It costs as much as 300 rubles per day and provides an unlimited amount of traffic. True, only the first 200 MB are available at maximum speed. Further, the access speed is limited to 128 kbit/sec. On days when the connection was inactive, the subscription fee is not charged.
What's the result?
Our mobile operators make trips to Crimea expensive. Even the Federal Antimonopoly Service cannot help. On the one hand, prices have decreased slightly. But on the other hand, the abolition of roaming should represent a complete preservation of home prices. In the near future this will become a reality - all you need is. For now, we recommend going to sea with MTS SIM cards.
MTS was pleased that it has its own towers in Crimea and all communications on the territory of the peninsula operate according to the laws of domestic Russian roaming, which means you can get away with either an expensive tariff, in which, when traveling around Russia, services are provided on the terms of your home region. Or connect to the “Home package Russia+”.
MegaFon is more expensive, and the most expensive were Beeline and Tele2 (here’s a discounter for you). There is an alternative option - we come on vacation, buy a local SIM card and install it as a second one, using inexpensive communications and cheap Internet.
And the best thing is to give yourself a real relaxation and break away from your smartphone - you can post fresh photos on social networks in the evening by connecting to one of the public (and free) Wi-Fi points. In addition, in the near future, Russian operators will have to adapt to it.
UPD: Our employee traveled to Crimea with an MTS SIM card, as we described above, by activating the “Home package Russia+” option. As practice has shown, indeed, MTS does not count the subscriber’s presence in Crimea as roaming and Internet and the minutes are debited from the package, but no money is spent.
