Russia has awarded 4G frequencies to four telecom operators, Reuters reported today. The four operators are VimpelCom, Mobile TeleSystems (MTS), Rostelecom and MegaFon. Other bidders that participated in the spectrum auction, included TTK, Summa Telecom and Tele2 Russia.

All winners will have to start providing LTE services no later than June 1, 2013. MegaFon has already started offering LTE since April this year and plans to expand the LTE footprint to 27 percent of population by the end of 2012.

MTS is reportedly planning to build LTE networks ahead of schedule, while preparing to launch LTE in Moscow in August-September. Whereas Vimpelcom has pledged to provide LTE services in six Russian regions by the end of 2013 says report.

For more see Reuters report