March 15, 2010 - According to a report by Reuters, long-distance operator Rostelecom has won permit to build a wireless broadband access network covering a third of the Russian population . The licences award each operator 30MHz of spectrum in the 2.3GHz-2.4GHz band for each constituent region. Under the conditions of the licences, the operators have 18 months to build and launch 4G networks using Russian-made equipment in their respective areas.

The operator has 18 months to build and launch 4G networks using Russian equipment in each area. Networks will be launched in Tomsk and Chechnya. Svyazinvest, which is the state owned parent company of Rostelecom, wants to transform itself by combining its local telecom companies into one single network across Russia. The 4G auction makes the company the fourth largest mobile operator in Russia.

The company’s success in the 4G auctions, however, has made it the fourth largest mobile operator in Russia in terms of licensed area.