I can't help on that one, BUT..
There are 'normal' mobile networks all across Russia. Every town and village has at least one network. It was part of the granting of operators licences that coverage be provided at practically every town or village.
You 'home' SIM will pick up every available network or you can buy a RUS 'pay as you go' SIM, but it will be only for one network. Both probably considerably cheaper options than satellite phoning but effectively almost as useful.
On all of Russian SibirskyExtreme, although not constantly phone watching, I was aware of only one smallish town where we could not get any signal - but that may have been a temporary local breakdown.
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