Sprint claims to have the nation’s most reliable 3G network, and some outside sources have verified that fact. The network can always be better though for users with more speed or better connectivity in rural areas.

Sprint and Ericsson have announced that they have signed a new 7-year agreement that will help Sprint “break away” from competitors with unique wireless and wireline services. The long spanning deal is being called Network Advantage.

The agreement will have payments for services of between $4.5 billion and $5 billion over the term of the contract, which has an option for renewal. The transaction will also see about 6,000 Sprint employees performing their network functions as Ericsson employees in Q3 of this year.

[via Sprint