Mobile networks Vodafone and O2 have signed a decade-long deal to share their network infrastructure in a bid to improve performance and coverage.

The firms previously established a similar arrangement in 2012 in a bid to improve the roll-out of 4G, and eventually 5G once the standard was launched.

The deal would also extend to Three if its merger with Vodafone is approved by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The resulting company has yet to have an official name, but is currently referred to as MergeCo. An investigation into the deal was launched in March over concerns that it could lead to higher prices for consumers.

While many elements of the new agreement expand on the existing arrangement, if the merger goes ahead, the operators have agreed that Virgin Media O2 will acquire spectrum from the newly created MergeCo. Virgin Media O2 said the proposals would ensure “better alignment of spectrum holding” in an attempt to assuage regulators.

If approved, MergeCo has said it will...