Reed Smith has grabbed the lead adviser role for Sky on its deal with 02′s Spanish parent company Telefonica to launch a mobile phone service next year.

The media giant will offer mobile voice and data services for the first time using Telefonica UK's wireless network, adding to its existing content, broadband and fixed communication services.

Reed Smith technology partner Angus Finnegan, who joined in July 2014 from Osborne Clarke, led the Reed Smith team that worked closely with Sky's in-house lawyers Andrew Perry, Karla Ritchie and Andrew Middleton.

Telefonica's head of legal for digital services, Michael Ogden, led the deal for Telefonica.

Principal legal advisor at Sky Andrew Perry said: "We have worked with Reed Smith successfully in the past on a number of smaller matters and the team's strong expertise in mobile led us to use them again for this important transaction."

The deal marks is the latest in a series of deals in the telecommunications sector in recent months.

Earlier this week, it emerged that Linklaters had bagged the lead role advising Hong Kong's Hutchison Whampoa, owned by local billionaire Li Ka-shing, as it entered into exclusive talks with Telefonica to acquire 02 for £10.25bn.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer and Baker & McKenzie are also advising Hutchison on the deal.

Meanwhile, Freshfields is also advising on BT's proposed acquisition of EE for £12.5bn – alongside Clifford Chance and Norton Rose Fulbright.