Number of fixed telephone sets to grow in Russia

The number of fixed telephone sets will increased by 4.3 percent to 36.9m in 2005, compared to 35.37m currently, Valery Rudakov, the head of the communications development department of the Russian Communications Ministry, declared at an international conference. According to him, the number of fixed telephone sets will surge to 47.7m by 2010.

The current penetration rate of the fixed telephone network in Russia is 24.7 lines for every 100 people. According to Rudakov, in 2005 the penetration rate will be 25.3 lines; in 2010 it will be 32.7 lines for every 100 people.