Russian telecommunications regulator Roskomnadzor announced that Russian Wimax operator Scartel and national operator Rostelecom can use their existing radio frequencies for deploying LTE networks.

Russian telecommunications regulator Roskomnadzor announced that Russian Wimax operator Scartel and national operator Rostelecom can use their existing radio frequencies for deploying LTE networks. 

Scartel plans to start construction of a commercial LTE network this summer while Rostelecom will launch LTE  networks in 2011 in the regions where the operator holds relevant licences. Both operators are currently preparing LTE testing areas based on Russian equipment.

Scartel , working under the Yota brand, had announced to drop Wimax in favor of LTE in may this year. However later representatives of the regulator had suggested that Yota’s licence was issued for the provision of WiMAX services only. 

Scartel has launched Mobile WiMAX network in septemebr 2008, in Russia and had deployed the Networks in 2.5-2.7 GHz frequency in Moscow.