“This network transformation will put us in a great position for a seamless launch of 4G services this year,” said Andrew Conway, O2 mobile access head, in a statement.

The deal, announced Monday, follows on from a 3G cooperation that begun in 2010.

Ericsson announced that it would be “deploying RBS 6000 multi-standard radio base stations for 50 percent of O2’s radio access network in the UK”.

The statement noted the increased proclivity for smartphone usage and the increased demands it put on the mobile networks and data transfer capacity.

“The end result will be a nationwide multi-standard network that supports 2G/3G/4G, giving O2 the ability to manage with data traffic growth and expand its mobile coverage,” Ericsson statement read.

O2 welcomed the cooperation.

“The outcome of the recent spectrum auction allows us to ensure the widest and deepest possible reach for new services and will see O2’s 4G network provide indoor coverage to 98 percent of the UK population,” said Conway.

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