BOGOTA, Dec 20 (Reuters) -

Colombia picked four telecommunications firms as winners of a fifth-generation (5G) data services auction on Wednesday, in a bid to attract investment and join regional peers like Argentina and Mexico, where 5G is already available.

Claro, Telecall Colombia S.A.S., WOM and Union Temporal Colombia Movil-Telefonica, a partnership between the operators of Movistar and Tigo, won concessions up for grabs in the auction, the communications ministry said in a statement.

The ministry added that the auction will raise more than 1.5 trillion pesos ($381 million), coming in below a prior government estimate that the South American country's first-ever 5G auction would raise about $500 million.

"Historic! 5G is a reality for Colombians," said Mauricio Lizcano, the information technology and communications minister, in a post on X, adding that the roll-out would begin next February. ($1 = 3,938.5000 Colombian pesos) (Reporting by Nelson Bocanegra; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Chris Reese and David Alire Garcia)