O2 to sell Airwave?

O2 is considering selling off Airwave, its emergency service digital radio network business, a report in the Times newspaper claimed this week.

The newspaper mentioned a would-be price tag of around £2bn and understands several buyers, likely to include private equity groups, are interested.

O2 declined to comment on the rumour.

Airwave is the secure digital radio network used by UK emergency and public-safety services. Rollout was completed in March 2005 and it has around 150,000 users.

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The network allows emergency workers to communicate via mobile digital radio when in confined spaces and tunnels where radio coverage can be poor. It is part of the HMG Critical National Infrastructure and is designed to keep functioning during major incidents when standard mobile and fixed networks can fail.

Airwave signed a £2.9bn, 19-year contract with the Home Office in 2000 and serves all police forces in England, Scotland and Wales.