MetroPCS Communications Inc said it has selected the infrastructure and initial handset providers for its fourth-generation long term evolution broadband service, which is expected to launch in the second half of 2010.

The U.S. low-cost wireless carrier selected Swedish telecom equipment group Ericsson as its infrastructure vendor for the launch of its LTE service. Samsung will provide the company's initial LTE handset device.

MetroPCS plans to begin offering its LTE services and a dual-mode LTE/CDMA smartphone in its major metropolitan markets in late 2010, the company said.

Shares of MetroPCS -- which competes with Leap Wireless International Inc and Sprint Nextel Corp's Boost Mobile unit -- were up 5 percent at $9.84 in afternoon trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

The company offers unlimited phone calls to users for a monthly fee without tying them to long-term contracts. (Reporting by S. John Tilak in Bangalore; Editing by Deepak Kannan)

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