The number of Russian mobile phone subscriptions rose 2.3 million in May to 195.1 million, consultants Advanced Communications & Media said Tuesday.

Russia's largest operator OAO Mobile TeleSystems (MBT) took 40% of the new subscribers, a reversal of the recent trend which has shown OAO Vimpel Communications (VIP) gaining after buying half of the country's largest mobile phone retailer.

Penetration, or the number of valid SIM cards for each 100 people, rose to 134.4% in May from 132.8% in April.

AC&M gave the following breakdown of the largest operators' subscriber details for Russia. The figures don't include subscribers of MTS, VimpelCom and MegaFon elsewhere in the former Soviet Union.

Operator            May         April     On Month 
MTS             66.469 mln   65.677 mln   +792,000 
Vimpelcom       50.123 mln   49.978 mln   +146,000 
MegaFon         44.608 mln   44.045 mln   +563,000 
Tele2           10.950 mln   10.775 mln   +175,000 
Uralsvyazinform  5.950 mln    5.879 mln    +71,000

AC&M Web site: www.acm-consulting.com

-By Will Bland, Dow Jones Newswires; +7 495 937 8445; william.bland@dowjones.com