Your health
Radio waves have been used commercially for over 70 years and their potential effects on human health have been researched extensively.
We follow strict international safety guidelines based on this research and constantly monitor any new findings on the health and safety of mobile phone networks.
What the experts say
As research into radio waves and their effects continues, the mounting evidence suggests that the risk to the community from radiation is very low.
The Stewart Report, a major piece of UK research undertaken by the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP) in May 2000, says evidence to date suggests:
- Exposure to RF (radio frequency) radiation below National Radiological Protection Board and International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guideline levels, doesn't cause adverse health effects
- There's no general risk to the health of people living near base stations where exposure is only a small fraction of the guideline limits
In 2004, the Advisory Group on Non-Ionising Radiation (AGNIR) published a comprehensive review of worldwide research undertaken since the Stewart Report which concluded that:
- Exposure levels from living near mobile phone base stations are extremely low
- Overall evidence indicates that exposure is unlikely to pose a health risk
Our safeguards
Our industry is strictly regulated to make sure the public is protected.
We've always operated our network within the stringent public exposure guidelines set out by the ICNIRP, which puts acceptable radio wave limits at:
- 9W/m2 at our 2G operating frequency of 1,800MHz
- 10W/m2 at our 3G operating frequency of 2,100MHz
As an additional safeguard, the Office of Communications conducts random checks on our operational base stations across the UK.
