Colombian mobile operator Tigo plans to expand its 4G LTE network coverage to 40 Colombian cities by mid-2014, reports La Republica, citing Tigo Colombia president Esteban Iriarte. The operator’s LTE network currently covers the cities of Bucaramanga, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla and Bogota.

Tigo has a 4G LTE deployment and network sharing agreement with Telefonica. According to Iriarte, Tigo and Telefonica have jointly invested over 2 billion pesos ($1 million) in the first two years of their partnership to acquire spectrum and deploy LTE infrastructure.

Iriarte also said that the merger of Une with Tigo is expected to close at the end of the second quarter.