TECHNOLOGY boss and export ambassador Eric Hawthorn is anticipating extra demand for his company's products after ministers reached a deal with the four mobile networks to improve coverage across the UK.

Agreement has been reached with EE, O2, Three and Vodafone to tackle poor signal issues in so-called partial "not-spots" which have coverage from some but not all of the networks.

Networks have collectively agreed to a guaranteed £5 billion investment programme to improve mobile infrastructure by 2017 and guaranteed voice and text coverage from each operator across 90 per cent of the UK by 2017.

Mr Hawthorn, managing director of Shipley-based Radio Design Ltd, which pioneered the world’s first technology enabling mobile phone network operators to share communications masts, is hoping it will mean more demand for the £22 million turnover business.

Launched in 2007, Radio Design employs around 250 people with manufacturing in Shipley and Saltaire. It also produces in China, India and Finland.

As the new government deal involves increasing geographical coverage of mobile signals, Mr Hawthorn hopes it should generate more orders for his company.

“This should be good news for us, although it’s hard to say when any extra demand would filter through as a result of this agreement. But the trend is right for us, particularly as the mobile operators are already looking to improve their efficiency and cost effectiveness by increasingly sharing technology," he said.

“The fact that the UK mobile operators are committing to invest in infrastructure and extend their geographical reach means it’s fair to assume that we should expect to benefit at some stage."

Radio Design, which now has more than 20 products, making around 2,000 mobile telecommunications components a week – with about 80 more in the pipeline – has been busy supplying products for the roll-out of 4G mobile services.

It’s Indian subsidiary recently won two national accolades in the Economic Times telecomms awards.

India’s communications minister Ravi Shankar Prasad presented the game changer award to Gaurav Chauhan, managing director of Radio Design India.

The company also won the innovation in developing OEM products category in the face of competition from the likes of IT giant Cisco, which recognises innovation in original telecomms equipment which has resulted in an increasing customer base, revenue or profitability.

“Things are now going very well for us in India and getting these major awards is the icing on the cake,” said Eric.