Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) and VimpelCom Russia (Beeline) have switched on shared 4G LTE radio spectrum, claiming a Russian first. The rivals have shared frequencies in the 2600MHz band initially in Cherepovets, in the Vologda region, under plans to cooperate using shared LTE spectrum in more than 30 regions over the next year. The first launch in Cherepovets involved joining the cellcos’ 10MHz blocks in the 2600MHz range, which they said will enable them to increase peak LTE data speeds in the area to 150Mbps. Note that major rival MegaFon has greater 2600MHz resources than Beeline or MTS in various regions via the previous acquisition of Yota, which now operates as an MVNO on MegaFon’s network.