* Reports 1.82 billion rouble net profit

* Operating costs rose 4.9 percent

* Sales climbed 2.2 percent

MOSCOW, Dec 14 - Russian fixed-to-mobile regional telecoms company Sibirtelecom (STKM.MM) said nine-month net profit fell 29 percent after expenses grew twice as fast as revenues.

January-September net profit amounted to 1.82 billion roubles ($60 million), Russia's No.6 mobile operator said on Monday, adding operating expenses rose 4.9 percent to 24.3 billion while sales increased 2.2 percent to 28.5 billion.

The bottom line was also hit by higher interest expenses as well as a 311 million rouble non-cash foreign exchange loss.

Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 5 percent to 11.1 billion roubles, for an EBITDA margin of 38.8 percent, up from 37.8 percent in January-September 2008.

The company, controlled by national telecoms group Svyazinvest, earlier forecast full-year 2009 net profit of 3 billion roubles. [ID:nLH828456] (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by Dan Lalor) ($1 = 30.2107 roubles)

Russia