Responsible network

We want to deliver the best network

WE'RE COMMITTED TO DELIVERING OUR NETWORK IN A SAFE AND RESPONSIBLE WAY

We're the largest UK mobile operator and in 2012 became the first to roll out mobile 4G in the UK. With billions of voice minutes, messages and megabytes delivered through our network every year we need to make sure we run it in a responsible way.

It's essential that our network is strong, robust and fit to serve the needs of the 21st century customer. This means providing adequate coverage that can cope with the data demands in peak areas and at peak times.

In managing such a large infrastructure we need to make sure we’re dealing with any issues and responding to feedback related to network hiccups:

it's essential we deploy our network in a responsible manner. This means being respectful in where we place masts and talking to the communities affected. We also need to make sure the people who work on our network are safe. You can read more about Responsible and Safe Deployment below
we also understand some people may have concerns about health issues related to mobile phones and the network. You can read more about Mobiles, Masts and Health Issues below

what we do

Responsible and safe deployment
Responsible deployment

we carry out detailed impact assessments prior to deploying our network to make sure the impact on the local community is minimised

however, people often ask us about our network, both when new masts are installed and when existing masts are decommissioned

we have a dedicated team who manage our community liaison on mast-related issues. They visit sites where communities require more information and meet with MPs as required

if you have any thoughts or concerns about our network deployment please get in touch via ee.co.uk/contactus

Safe deployment

it’s essential that our network engineers are safe when they deploy the network

our Safety team have implemented a safety management system, that aims to reduce the number of incidents across our network through consistent and stringent contractor control

we're also a founding member of the Mast and Tower Safety (MATS) group, which is supported by the regulator in the UK and publishes industry standards for network build, operation and maintenance. We're right behind the MATS team's commitment to publicise the main cause of incidents in business

Mobiles, masts and health issues
The use of mobile phones has grown at a phenomenal rate, with more than 80 million handsets now active in the UK.

Without a network of masts we’d be unable to deliver the great social and economic benefits mobiles bring.

we understand some people have health concerns related to mobiles and masts. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated that there's no evidence to convince experts that using mobile devices and masts poses health risks

when we build a mobile phone base station we're required to demonstrate that signal levels in all publicly accessible areas remain within the International Commission for Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) safety guidelines endorsed by the WHO and the UK Government

these guidelines are set to ensure the safety of all members of society, including the very old and young. They were set by ICNIRP in 1998 and adopted in the UK in 2000. They're kept under constant review

the UK Government decided that all base stations in the UK must adhere to these ICNIRP guidelines and that, if the guidelines were conformed with, no further health considerations were necessary

research continues into mobile devices, masts and health. We're committed to supporting this work

Being responsible

We're committed to building trust and sharing the power of connectivity with everyone in the UK.

Responsible network

How we make a difference