Callback services started in early 1990s in Russia. Since telephone services in Russia remain largely monopolized and tariffs are high, callback services are currently quite profitable in this country. Rostelecom, which has a virtual monopoly on international lines, has the highest international dialing rates per GDP per capita in the world. At present, there are few commercial providers such as Comstar and Combellga, that compete with Rostelecom by providing discounts at certain times.
Internet telephony is almost non-existent in Russia.
Many callback companies' business is growing in Russia. The rates these companies provide are highly competitive. Callback is considered to be an emerging market phenomenon. Because of liberalization of telecommunication markets in the West, dialing Moscow from New York is considerably less expensive than making the same call in the opposite direction. Callback connection from Moscow to London via New York turns out to be less expensive than a direct call.