Yota

Yota's history began in 2006, when Denis Sverdlov and Sergey Adonev, co-owners of the Saint Petersburg company Korus, established Skartel. The new company pursued wireless broadband using WiMAX technology, at a time when Russia's mobile data market was moving toward faster metropolitan and regional connectivity. In 2008, Skartel became the first company in Russia to deploy WiMAX-standard networks in Moscow and Saint Petersburg. The networks operated in the 2.5–2.7 GHz band, which later also became important for Russian fourth-generation mobile networks. Yota subsequently began moving from WiMAX toward LTE. In 2010, the company announced plans for a subscription-based LTE network with proposed speeds of 20–30 Mbit/s. A trial network in Kazan was tested on 30 August 2010 and involved approximately 150 base stations, but the test was shut down the next day. Commercial deployment followed in stages. Novosibirsk was the first city identified in the reference material as receiving a commercial Yota LTE service, on 22 December 2011. Krasnodar followed on 29 April 2012, Moscow on 10 May, and Sochi on 11 May. Samara was connected in May 2013, while Ufa and Saint Petersburg were also subsequently added. On 9 May 2012, Yota's WiMAX network was replaced by LTE, marking a decisive change in the brand's technical platform. The LTE rollout was connected to a broader relationship with MegaFon. AF-Telecom and Skartel agreed to cooperate on the development of fourth-generation mobile networks in Russia through a mobile virtual network operator structure. The shareholders of the two companies announced completion of the transaction on 10 July 2012. Ownership information in the reference material identifies Garsdale Services Investment Ltd. as the owner of all Yota shares and half of MegaFon's shares. Garsdale was described as controlled by AF-Telecom, Telconet Capital, and Russian Technologies State Corporation. This arrangement placed Yota within a larger Russian telecommunications and investment structure while allowing the brand to retain a distinct consumer identity. The Yota name was also extended to hardware. In July 2011, Yota introduced the Yota One and Yota Many device family for its WiMAX network. Yota Many was a small portable Wi-Fi hotspot, while the Yota modem served as a network-access device for Yota's LTE service. These products were designed by the company rather than simply being rebranded earlier hardware. The associated Yota Devices business then pursued a more ambitious smartphone concept. On 12 December 2012, it announced a YotaPhone prototype with a 4.3-inch high-definition LCD display on the front and an electronic-ink display on the back. The prototype used Android, and further details were presented at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February 2013. The YotaPhone 2 later received international attention; in November 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave one to Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping. Later reference material also identifies a Yota 3 model, although the available sources do not provide a complete commercial history for it. Yota's final corporate position is associated with legal and financial difficulty. In April 2019, the company filed for bankruptcy after a lawsuit by Hi-P Singapore, the manufacturer contracted to produce its devices. The bankruptcy is an important distinction between the historical Yota communications and hardware businesses and any later use of the brand. The supplied sources do not establish a complete post-bankruptcy ownership, service, or trademark history. Consequently, Yota should be documented as a Russian telecom brand with a historically significant broadband and device portfolio, while its present operating status remains unknown.

1. 2019Yota files for bankruptcy

   The company files for bankruptcy after litigation by contracted manufacturer Hi-P Singapore.

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2. 2014YotaPhone 2 is presented as a diplomatic gift

   Vladimir Putin gives a YotaPhone 2 to Xi Jinping in November.

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3. 2013YotaPhone receives further exposure at Mobile World Congress

   Yota Devices presents additional information about the dual-screen smartphone in Barcelona.

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4. 2012Yota transitions from WiMAX to LTE

   Yota replaces its WiMAX service with LTE and expands coverage to additional Russian cities.

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5. 2012YotaPhone prototype is announced

   Yota Devices reveals a smartphone prototype with conventional and electronic-ink displays.

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6. 2012MegaFon and Skartel complete their network transaction

   The companies announce completion of an arrangement for joint LTE network development based on an MVNO model.

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7. 2011Yota introduces Yota One and Yota Many

   The brand presents a new generation of WiMAX-compatible devices, including a portable hotspot.

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8. 2011Commercial LTE launches in Novosibirsk

   Novosibirsk becomes the first city identified in the reference material for commercial Yota LTE service.

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9. 2010LTE testing begins in Kazan

   Yota tests an LTE network in Kazan using approximately 150 base stations.

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10. 2008WiMAX networks launch in Moscow and Saint Petersburg

    Skartel becomes the first company in Russia to deploy WiMAX-standard networks in the two major cities.

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11. 2006Skartel is founded

    Denis Sverdlov and Sergey Adonev establish Skartel, the company that used the Yota brand.

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A Russian connectivity brand positioned around mobile broadband, early 4G network adoption, and distinctive connected devices.

• Yota WiMAXWireless broadband network2008

  Yota's original wireless-broadband service used WiMAX technology and was deployed in Moscow and Saint Petersburg in 2008. The service operated in the 2.5–2.7 GHz range and represented the brand's first major network platform in Russia. It was later replaced by LTE as Yota shifted toward fourth-generation mobile broadband.

• Yota LTEMobile broadband network2011

  Yota's LTE network was developed as the successor to its WiMAX infrastructure. Testing began in Kazan in 2010, and commercial deployment began in Novosibirsk in December 2011 before expanding to cities including Krasnodar, Moscow, Sochi, Samara, Ufa, Saint Petersburg, Kazan, and Vladivostok. The service formed the core of Yota's later telecom proposition.

• Yota OneMobile broadband device2011

  Yota One was part of a device family introduced in 2011 for compatibility with Yota's 4G WiMAX network. The available reference material identifies it as one of the company's internally designed products but does not provide detailed technical specifications or a complete sales history.

• Yota ManyPortable Wi-Fi hotspot2011

  Yota Many was a compact portable Wi-Fi hotspot designed for the Yota 4G WiMAX network. It was presented as smaller and more portable than an earlier device, extending Yota's network proposition into personal connectivity hardware.

• Yota ModemMobile broadband modem

  The Yota Modem was a network-access device intended for Yota's LTE service. The reference material describes it as somewhat larger and thicker than the Yota One, with a form designed for connecting users to Yota's mobile broadband network.

• YotaPhoneSmartphone2012

  YotaPhone was Yota Devices' signature smartphone concept. Its defining feature was a conventional front display paired with a rear electronic-ink screen, allowing the device to offer a second, low-power information surface. The first prototype was announced in 2012, used Android, and was subsequently developed into later models including YotaPhone 2.

• YotaPhone 2Smartphone2014

  YotaPhone 2 was a later generation of the dual-screen smartphone line. It retained the central YotaPhone concept of combining a standard color display with an electronic-ink rear display and became the model most visibly associated with the brand's international profile, including its presentation as a gift to Xi Jinping in 2014.

• Yota 3Smartphone

  Yota 3 is identified in the available reference material as a later Yota Devices smartphone generation. The supplied sources do not provide sufficient detail about its specifications, launch markets, or commercial performance.

• 2019Bankruptcy filingOther

  Yota faced litigation from Hi-P Singapore, the manufacturer contracted to produce its devices.

  What changed. The company filed for bankruptcy in April 2019.

  Aftermath. The filing placed the continuation of Yota's corporate and brand activities in doubt. The supplied sources do not establish a complete post-bankruptcy outcome.

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• 2012Replacement of WiMAX with LTEGeneration change

  Yota needed to transition its wireless-broadband network from WiMAX to the LTE standard selected for Russian fourth-generation deployments.

  What changed. On 9 May 2012, Yota replaced its WiMAX service with LTE and continued expanding LTE coverage across Russian cities.

  Aftermath. The change aligned Yota's service with the emerging Russian 4G ecosystem and its cooperation with MegaFon.

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• 2012Network-development arrangement with MegaFonM&A

  AF-Telecom, MegaFon, and Skartel sought to coordinate fourth-generation network development while using a mobile virtual network operator model for Yota.

  What changed. The shareholders of MegaFon and Skartel announced completion of the transaction on 10 July 2012.

  Aftermath. Yota became more closely connected to MegaFon's ownership and network structure, although the available material does not detail the full contractual terms.

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• 2012Development of the YotaPhoneProduct launch

  Yota Devices sought to extend the Yota brand from connectivity hardware into differentiated consumer electronics.

  What changed. The company announced a dual-screen Android smartphone prototype with a front LCD and rear electronic-ink display.

  Aftermath. The concept became Yota's best-known consumer-electronics product and led to later YotaPhone generations.

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• 2010Move toward LTE broadbandStrategy

  Yota's initial network business was based on WiMAX, but the company planned to adopt LTE as a newer fourth-generation mobile broadband technology.

  What changed. The company announced a subscription LTE network and conducted a test deployment in Kazan.

  Aftermath. LTE became Yota's principal network platform and subsequently replaced its WiMAX service.

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• 2019Bankruptcy following manufacturer litigationControversy

  Yota filed for bankruptcy in April 2019 after a lawsuit brought by Hi-P Singapore, the contracted manufacturer of its devices. The available source identifies the litigation as the cause of the bankruptcy but does not provide a full account of the claims, settlement, or subsequent disposition of all related entities.

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• 2012Yota announces the first YotaPhone prototype

  Yota Devices presented a dual-screen smartphone prototype combining a front LCD with a rear electronic-ink display.

  Product launch
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• 2012Yota replaces WiMAX with LTE

  Yota's WiMAX service was replaced by LTE as the company moved its broadband network to a newer fourth-generation standard.

  Other
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• 2012MegaFon and Skartel complete their LTE network transaction

  The shareholders of MegaFon and Skartel announced completion of a transaction supporting joint fourth-generation network development using an MVNO model.

  M&A
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• 2010Yota announces plans for an LTE subscription network

  Yota announced a planned LTE service with stated speeds of approximately 20–30 Mbit/s and tested the network in Kazan.

  Product launch
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• 2008Skartel deploys Russia's first WiMAX networks under the Yota brand

  Yota's operating company became the first company in Russia to deploy WiMAX-standard networks in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

  Product launchOther
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1. Yota