Mobile telephone with separable microwave emitter connected with optical fibre link

A radiotelephone is disclosed in which the microwave transceiver and antenna 1 and 2 are physically separated from the handset 20 and data is transmitted between the two along an optical fibre 5. A base station 30 may optionally be provided to connect the handset 20 to a land line 34, the handset 20 communicating with the base station 30 via RF signals between radio transceivers 25 and 31. Alternatively, a "hands free" is system for a mobile telephone (40, figure 2a) is provided in which communication between the earphone (46, figure 2a) and microphone headset (45, figure 2a) and the telephone is provided by an optical fibre connection (42, figure 2a). The provision of an optical fibre connection 5 (or 42, figure 2a) in both cases results in lower background noise caused by microwave radiation and reduces associated health risks.