Press release

Some 50,000 police officers are now using Airwave, mmO2's advanced communications system for the emergency services. This figure is set to double to 100,000 in the next 12 months as the new national police communications system in England, Scotland and Wales builds towards completion in mid-2005.

The officers already using Airwave belong to 35 forces that have received the technology to date. Over the next 15 months the remaining 16 police forces will be equipped with the service which provides combined radio, mobile phone and data devices to replace their out-dated radios.

Airwave gives the police a more reliable, secure and flexible communications system and enables officers to talk to each other easily, regardless of location.

Peter Richardson, managing director of O2 Airwave, said the introduction of Airwave has already helped the police to fight crime and improve the service to the community.

He said: "The rollout of Airwave is going very well. More and more police officers are transferring onto the new system every day and reporting significant improvements.

"We are well on target to meet our commitment to deliver the Airwave service to all police forces by mid-2005."

O2 Airwave helps police officers to be more efficient and effective by providing clear, secure and reliable communication. The new handsets are radios as well as mobile phones, enabling officers to return less often to the station, so making more effective use of control room resources. In addition, the handsets act as data devices and this can allow officers to receive information from the Police National Computer when this service is fully rolled out.

O2 Airwave is already in use in two fire and rescue services and an ambulance trust, the British Transport Police and the MoD Police. Furthermore it has been shortlisted in national contracts with fire and ambulance services. If all three 'blue light' services use Airwave they will have, for the first time ever, the ability to communicate seamlessly with each other should an incident require a consolidated approach. The company is also licensed to offer Airwave to other public safety users in the UK, of which there are around 100.

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Notes to Editors:

What is Airwave?
O2 Airwave, part of mmO2 plc, is a sophisticated communications system for the emergency and other public safety ('blue light') services.

It will help make Britain safer by facilitating more effective and efficient ways of working for the emergency services, and the opportunity for more 'joined up' public safety services.

The service is being provided to all police forces throughout England, Scotland and Wales as part of a £2.9bn UK Government contract. Rollout to the police is due for completion at the end of 2005.

O2 Airwave is currently used by Lancashire and Shropshire Fire and Rescue Services, as well as Hereford & Worcester Ambulance Trust. The company is bidding for national contracts for both fire and ambulance services.

Key Benefits of O2 Airwave:

• For the first time ever, emergency services can have radio coverage whenever and wherever they need it - even in radio 'cold spots'. O2 Airwave will enable emergency services to communicate seamlessly regardless of location for the first time ever
• Because all Airwave communications are encrypted, they cannot be scanned or monitored by outsiders
• The system enables both voice and data communications and gives the emergency services wide flexibility in choosing how to communicate

The Technology
O2 Airwave uses Motorola TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio) technology. TETRA is an open digital trunked radio standard defined by the European Telecommunications Standardisation Institute (ETSI) to meet the needs of the most demanding professional mobile radio users. As this is a completely new national network for the UK, Airwave is undertaking a major network building programme to provide geographical (as opposed to population) coverage. Motorola's level three encryption security will provide the highest level of secure TETRA communications technology commercially available today. For more information: www.motorola.com/TETRA

For further information please contact:
David Nicholas
Director of Communications
mmO2 plc
t: +44 (0) 771 575 9176
david.nicholas@o2.com

O2 Airwave Contact:
Claire Parker
Press Relations Manager
O2 Airwave
t: +44 (0)7712 772771
claire.parker@o2.com

All mmO2 Group news releases can be accessed at our web site: www.o2.com

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