Mobile operator Three will begin upgrading its mobile broadband infrastructure in July, deploying high speed uplink packet access (HSUPA) technology across its network.

The upgrade will increase data transfer speeds and decrease the latency of the network connections, improving users' mobile internet browsing experience as web pages load quicker.

Three also suggested that the uplink speeds could be faster than those currently available with fixed line network connections.

"For around a fifth of our customers, mobile broadband is the first internet connectivity of any kind they have had," added Three UK's head of mobile broadband Jonathan Lutz.

Three also confirmed their intention to share infrastructure with rival mobile operator T-Mobile, which will give 98 per cent population coverage in early 2009, from 13,000 base stations - up from their current 7,500.