taken by the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, are:
Mobile Towers‐ EMF Radiation Norms:
• EMF exposure limit (Base Station Emissions) is lowered to 1/10th of the existing ICNIRP exposure level effective from 1st
Sept. 2012. India now has one of the most stringent EMF exposure norms in the world.
• Telecom Enforcement Resource & Monitoring (TERM) Cells of DOT have been entrusted with the job of conducting audit on the self
certification furnished by the Service Providers. TERM Cell shall carry out test audit up to 10% of the BTS site on random basis and on all
cases where there is a public complaint.
• Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC) has revised the Test Procedure for measurement of EMF for verification of EMF
compliance for BTS towers in accordance with new standards effective from 1st Sept. 2012.
• For non‐compliance of EMF standards, a penalty of Rs. 5 lakh is liable to be levied per BTS per Service Provider.
Mobile Handsets
• India has adopted the most stringent international norms for mobile handsets.
• All the new designs of mobile handsets shall comply with the SAR values of 1.6 W/kg averaged over 1 gram of human tissue w.e.f. 1st
Sept. 2012.
• The mobile handsets with existing designs which are compliant with 2.0 W/kg averaged over 10 gram of human tissue,
continue to co‐exist up to 31st August 2013. From 1st Sept. 2013, only the mobile handsets with revised SAR value of 1.6
W/kg would be permitted to be manufactured or imported in India.
• Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) value information display on the mobile handsets like IMEI (International Mobile
Equipment Identity) display. The information on SAR values to be made available to the consumer at the point of sale.
• Mobile hand set manufactured and sold in India or imported from other countries shall be checked on random basis for compliance of
SAR limit after TEC SAR Laboratory is set up by end of year 2012. Test results from International accredited labs shall be acceptable in the
interim period.
• All cell phone handsets sold in the market in India shall comply with relevant standards and shall be available in hand
free mode.
Myths and Facts: Various Myths about Mobile Handsets & Mobile base stations:
Myth Fact
Mobile phone use cause headaches. Headaches are not related to Mobile phone use and there is no scientific
evidence.
It is safer using a mobile phone in a car
as the car shields from the radiation.
The RF radiation is increased by Mobile phones when used in a car to
overcome the shielding.
Mobile phones cause brain cancer to the
people who use it.
There is no scientific evidence that Mobile Phone can cause brain cancer.
Mobile Base stations are dangerous
and one should have distance from it.
It is the antenna from which we should keep distance not from tower and that too if
we are positioned facing antenna at comparable height. At the ground level, the
intensity of RF radiation from base station is much less.
Nobody is investigating the health
effects of Radio Frequency (RF)
radiation.
The World Health Organization, many national & international organizations and
independent expert groups are coordinating to investigate health effects of RF
radiation.
Department of Telecom, Govt. of India
Sanchar Bhawan, 20, Ashoka Road, New Delhi 110001
Ensuring Safety from Radiations : Mobile Towers and Handsets
Most of the laboratory studies were unable to find a direct link between exposure to Radio Frequency radiation and HealthIndia has adopted one of the most stringent Electro Magnetic Field (EMF) exposure norms in the world. The measures
taken by the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, are:
Mobile Towers‐ EMF Radiation Norms:
• EMF exposure limit (Base Station Emissions) is lowered to 1/10th of the existing ICNIRP exposure level effective from 1st
Sept. 2012. India now has one of the most stringent EMF exposure norms in the world.
• Telecom Enforcement Resource & Monitoring (TERM) Cells of DOT have been entrusted with the job of conducting audit on the self
certification furnished by the Service Providers. TERM Cell shall carry out test audit up to 10% of the BTS site on random basis and on all
cases where there is a public complaint.
• Telecom Engineering Centre (TEC) has revised the Test Procedure for measurement of EMF for verification of EMF
compliance for BTS towers in accordance with new standards effective from 1st Sept. 2012.
• For non‐compliance of EMF standards, a penalty of Rs. 5 lakh is liable to be levied per BTS per Service Provider.
Mobile Handsets more