Italian mobile phone operator Wind is set to step up its technology with a $1.3 billion investment on building a fourth generation (4G) mobile broadband network.

Using technology from Sirti and Huawei Technologies, the 4G mobile broadband network is aimed to make Wind more competitive with its rivals Telecom Italia and Vodafone.

Owned by VimpelCom, Wind is the third largest mobile telecoms operator in Italy. Aside from Telecom Italia and Vodafone, Wind also competes with Hutchinson Whampoa's 3 Italia.

Huawei, a Chinese telecoms equipment maker, also supplies for three other Italian mobile phone companies. It has won 4G contracts with Britain's EE and Germany's Vodafone.

The deal, which will last five years, follows the purchase of the LTE (Long Term Evolution) frequencies, according to Wind Chief Executive Maximo Ibarra.