To connect Samara to Kazan, for example, you have to go through the capital city. Advantages to doing business in Russia include the high level of IT expertise and cost savings that stem from lower salaries. The biggest problem with doing business in Russia is the lack of experienced management talent, according to AmCham. Companies surveyed said they have problems finding qualified project leaders and executive staff. Making Calls Gets Easier in Russian Cities Russia has had a notoriously rotten telephone system, but within the past couple of years, progress has been astounding.
Cell phones are now ubiquitous.
The major cities even offer their residents a choice of competing carriers. Businesses are also benefiting from an explosion of other communications options, including fiber-optic lines and satellite services. Mars Inc. Both U.S. companies started out in the major Russian cities of Moscow and St. Petersburg. As they expanded eastward, so did their telecommunications needs. Where fiber wouldn't reach, Golden Telecom set up satellite access.