Measurements by safety regulators in the UK and Germany have shown that our masts and base stations operate well below international safety limits, often by many hundreds or even hundreds of thousands of times. Our masts are well cordoned off with clear safety signs to warn people not to get close to antennae. The National Radiological Protection Board in the UK has issued new recommendations on safety procedures for people working on masts. We are reviewing our practices and expect to make some small changes to make sure we comply.

To minimise the visual, noise and environmental impact of our masts we work to a checklist when extending our network in sensitive areas, such as close to schools or in places of natural beauty. Where we may harm biodiversity or create an eyesore, we work to find alternative sitings or to mitigate the impacts. We have signed up to the mobile phone industry's Ten Commitments on responsible mast siting in the UK and a similar code in other countries of operation. This commits us to consulting communities on our plans openly and in good time.

O2 Airwave has completed over two thirds of its programme to build a secure network across mainland Britain, a process that has involved extensive consultation.

The recent completion of the network on the Gower peninsula in South Wales involved countless meetings with councillors, Welsh Assembly members, Members of Parliament and local campaigners – who were invited to help us choose appropriate mast sites. In Scotland, extensive briefings were given to planning officers, members of the Scottish Parliament and interest groups. The network building programme has gained significant community support and very few cases of local opposition.