STOCKHOLM, Sept 22 (Reuters) - Swedish telecom gear

maker Ericsson said on Monday it has got an

eight-year deal worth 12.5 billion Swedish crowns ($1.33

billion) to supply 5G communications equipment to

VodafoneThree's UK mobile network.

In June, Vodafone ( VOD ) and CK Hutchison ( CKHUF )

completed the merger of their UK operations, creating a new

business called VodafoneThree and laid out plans to invest 11

billion pounds ($14.8 billion) over 10 years to build one of

Europe's most advanced 5G networks.

Ericsson will introduce new 5G radio products into the

VodafoneThree network, comprising AI and energy-optimized

hardware and smart antennas, aimed at providing customers in

London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast with significantly

enhanced data speeds, the company said.

For the Swedish company, the European contract comes at a

time when there is a slowdown in markets such as India and

tariffs dampen profits from sales in the United States.

($1 = 9.3869 Swedish crowns)

($1 = 0.7431 pounds)

(Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm; Editing by

Mrigank Dhaniwala)