Mobile Phone Science Review Welcomed by Industry

14 January 2004

The UK mobile phone network operators today welcomed the publication of the Report of the Advisory Group on Non Ionising Radiation (AGNIR).

The findings of the review carried out by AGNIR are in line with reviews of science carried out in France, the Netherlands and Sweden since the publication of the Stewart Report in 2000.

Commenting on the general conclusion of the report, Mike Dolan, Executive Director of the Mobile Operators Association said "This thorough review of research since 2000 has contributed to public understanding of the science. The Report clearly confirms the findings of the Stewart Report which concluded that the balance of evidence suggests that mobile phone technologies do not cause adverse health effects. The MOA will now study the detailed findings of the Report."

“There are around 50 million mobile phone users in the UK and mobile phones are a key part of business and personal life. The health and safety of our customers, employees and the public is of prime importance to the mobile phone industry.

“The industry continues to support good quality scientific research and would welcome a further review of the science by AGNIR when the results from the MTHR and international research programmes are available.

“The industry is committed to addressing public concerns about mobile telephony in an open and transparent way. This is why it is jointly funding a £7.36 m research programme with the UK Government.”

The Mobile Telecommunications Health Research (MTHR) programme is being carried out to fill the gaps in knowledge identified by the Stewart Report. An independent panel of scientists directs the programme; industry’s role has been to provide the funding. The UK research is part of an intensive international research programme.

Notes to Editors

1. The Mobile Operators Association (MOA), formerly the FEI, was set up to represent the five UK mobile phone network operators - 3, O2, Orange, T-Mobile and Vodafone - on radio frequency health and planning issues. Information on the MOA can be found on www.mobilemastinfo.com.

2. The AGNIR Report can be found at www.nrpb.org.

3. The mobile phone industry is contributing £3.68m over three years to the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme.

4. Companies contributing to the research programme include the UK network operators (3, O2, Orange, T Mobile and Vodafone); companies that are members of the Mobile Manufacturers' Forum (MMF) - Alcatel, Mitsubishi Electric, Motorola, Nokia, Panasonic, Philips, Siemens, Sony Ericsson, and Sagem; Cable & Wireless, Crown Castle International and The Carphone Warehouse,

5. Details of the research programme can be found at www.mthr.org.uk.

6. For more information please contact Christine Jude 0207 331 2029, 07714 241924, email christinejude@ukmoa.org.