Rival telecom firms EE and Three have collaborated on a network-sharing deal to boost 4G LTE superfast mobile broadband for UK customers.
As part of the deal, both the companies will collectively pour additional £1bn to complete their telecoms infrastructure investment, in a bid to offer better coverage as well resulting in a quicker rollout for customers.
EE said in a statement to IT Pro that the new framework increases cost efficiencies as we continue roll out of 4G to cover more than 90% of the UK population by the end of the year.
"This is part of our £1.5 billion three year investment to significantly differentiate the EE network in terms of the people we connect and the experience they receive," the statement added.
"This year, our network priority is to deliver the benefits of superfast mobile internet to more of the UK and invent even more innovative ways for our customers to make the most of their 4G experience."
According to reports, even though both rivals have collaborated on the move, there would be major variations in the quality and coverage of their offerings.
Until now, EE has invested £1.4bn in modernising its service, while Three invested £500m in upgrading its services.
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Three CEO David Dyson was cited by FT as saying that beyond two years, apps and services will develop to make 4G more relevant.
"Right now, a 3G network can provide most of the service for most customers," Dyson said.
