A City Phone Number

In 1993, having several Moscow city phone numbers on a business card wasn’t just a business convenience — it was a genuine symbol of status and success in business circles.

Scarcity and Waiting Lists

By the early 1990s, getting a city phone line installed in Moscow was a serious challenge. The Moscow City Telephone Network (MGTS), founded back in 1882, couldn’t keep up with the growing demand for phone service amid a market economy and the rise of private enterprise.

Waiting lists for phone installation stretched on for years. Ordinary citizens waited their turn for 10–15 years, having filed their applications back in Soviet times. Entrepreneurs and commercial ventures, desperate for reliable communication, had to look for alternative ways to get a number.

The Numbering System in 1993

At the time, MGTS used a seven-digit numbering system introduced on July 30, 1968. Numbers followed the format XXX-XX-XX, where the first three digits identified a particular telephone exchange, and by extension a particular district of Moscow.

Some prefixes were considered more prestigious — for instance, numbers beginning with digits tied to the city’s central districts. This added extra value to phone numbers of certain series.

Commercial Value

Amid the shortage, city phone numbers took on serious commercial value. A shadow market sprang up for buying and renting numbers. The cost of a ready-made number could run to several thousand U.S. dollars — enormous money at the time.

Businessmen and entrepreneurs treated phone numbers as an investment and a valuable asset. Having several numbers let you:

• Split incoming calls by line of business
• Create the impression of a large, well-established company
• Provide backup channels of communication
• Demonstrate financial means and connections

Alternative Ways to Get a Number

Various methods were used to get a number without waiting in line:

• Buying up enterprises — acquiring bankrupt state enterprises purely for the phone numbers assigned to them
• Personal connections — using contacts at MGTS and other organizations
• Bribery — paying phone-company staff directly to speed up the process
• Renting — temporary use of someone else’s number for a fee

A Status Symbol

In the business world of the time, the number of phone lines on a business card became a marker of success. Three numbers, like the novel’s protagonist has, signaled that their owner:

• Had the means to acquire a scarce resource
• Had the necessary connections in the phone industry
• Ran an active business requiring multiple channels of communication
• Was willing to invest in image and business convenience

The State of MGTS

By 1993, MGTS was in the process of converting from a state enterprise into a joint-stock company (the conversion took place in 1994). Its technical base was aging, while market demand grew exponentially.

The directory-assistance line, set up back in 1932, was overloaded. International calls weren’t available to every subscriber. Under these conditions, having several city numbers really did offer serious competitive advantages.