T-Mobile USA has selected Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) to support It’s $4 billion 4G network evolution plan, including network modernization and LTE deployment in 2013.  

As per multi-year agreement, Ericsson and Nokia Siemens Networks will provide and install Release 10 capable equipment at 37,000 cell sites across T-Mobile’s 4G network, increasing signal quality and enhancing performance beginning in 2012. T-Mobile also expects to be the first carrier in North America to broadly deploy antenna integrated radios, enabling accelerated deployment and reduced site loading.

Last week, T-Mobile secured the AWS spectrum licenses from AT&T which were agreed to as part of the breakup of the proposed merger between the two companies. According to the operator, this new spectrum, in addition to the refarming effort, enables the launch of LTE in AWS spectrum and up to 20 MHz of LTE in 75% of the top 25 markets.

As part of the company’s network modernization effort, T-Mobile also plans to launch HSPA+ service in the 1900 MHz band in a large number of markets by the end of the year. T-Mobile also announced that its nationwide HSPA+ network has expanded to well over 220 million people in 229 markets.