O2 Airwave provided to more than 30 police forces

O2 Airwave, mm02's advanced TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio) based communications network for the emergency services, has now been delivered to more than 30 police forces and 35,000 officers and support staff. In addition, the company announced a 15-year, £3.3 million deal to provide secure communications for the UK Atomic Energy Authority Constabulary.

The state-of-the-art system is on track for completion in 2005, in accordance with the £2.9bn PFI contract. Already delivered to the Metropolitan Police Force, the latest forces to receive the system are Northamptonshire, West Yorkshire, City of London and Cheshire. When rollout is complete, all police will be able to communicate with each other regardless of location.

Peter Richardson, managing director of O2 Airwave, said the technology is a major boost to public safety. "We are already receiving very good feedback from the police about the benefits of Airwave. The simple fact that it can't be scanned, for example, means that criminals are being caught 'in the act'. We are also finding that officers like the emergency button on their new handsets as it gives them instant access to back-up at the time when they need it most."

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 and so ensuring the 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 currently bidding for 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 by the DTI to offer Airwave to other public safety users in the UK, of which there are around 100.