Virtual mobile operators in Russia are no longer a novelty. The market has entered a phase of explosive growth: by the end of 2025, the virtual operator subscriber base reached 25.5 million, accounting for nearly 10% of all SIM cards in the country. Over the past year, the segment grew by 51%, while the subscriber base of the "Big Four" remained virtually stagnant.
Connectivity branded by banks or retailers is now commonplace: SberMobile, T-Mobile, and Gazprombank Mobile are all virtual operators with subscriber bases numbering in the millions. Yet, for companies considering this path for the first time, the questions remain the same: what exactly is it, how does a virtual operator differ from a traditional one, who is doing this and why, and does it actually make sense for us?