DoT turns down telcos’ plea to keep radiation order on hold

The department of telecommunications (DoT) is set to reject mobile operators demand to “keep in abeyance” its directive to reduce radiation levels of cell phone towers to 1/10th of existing level from September 1.

The department of telecommunications (DoT) is set to reject mobile operators demand to “keep in abeyance” its directive to reduce radiation levels of cell phone towers to 1/10th of existing level from September 1.

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An internal DoT committee headed by senior deputy director general (DDG) has rejected industry's demand.

In a representation to the communications ministry, the industry said the radiation norms would impact area of coverage of a base transmission station (BTS), which are installed on towers. This will in turn “deteriorate the coverage.”

Rejecting operators’ demand, the DoT committee has noted “ensuring public health and safety is also as important for DoT as increasing the mobile coverage.” “Based on inputs available, it is felt that only 5% of the existing sites with multiple antennas may face difficulties when 1/10 of ICNIRP standards are implemented from September 1, 2012,” noted the DoT Committee.

“Had operators designed their networks based on radio engineering principles instead of cost saving measures and non- standards implementation of tower installations, the problem would have been much lower,” the panel said.

The committee has also reject handset manufacturers demands of postponing deadline (September 1) for reducing radiation level from handsets. The rate at which radiation is absorbed by the human body is measured by the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). From September 1, SAR levels in handsets will be reduced to 40% of its existing limit of 2 watt/kg.