Safeguarding Public Health

Steps taken for Regulating EMF Radiation from BTS towers

For providing the mobile services in the country, the telecom service providers have
to establish Base Transmitting Stations (BTS), at suitable locations, as per their
Radio Frequency (RF) Network Planning for proper coverage of the area. Prior to
installation of mobile towers, the telecom service providers have to obtain Site
clearance from Standing Advisory Committee on Frequency Allocation (SACFA) of
DoT for every site from the point of view of interference with other wireless users,
aviation hazards and obstruction to any other existing microwave links. The telecom
service providers have also to obtain necessary clearances from concerned local
authorities such as municipal corporation, Gram Panchayat etc before installation of
tower.
Accordingly, DoT is responsible for regulating the EMF radiation from BTS towers
and State Government, Municipal Corporations, Local Bodies regulate the
installation of towers as per their building bylaws. DoT has taken the following steps
for regulating the EMF radiation from BTS towers to safeguard the public health:
1. Adoption of ICNIRP Guidelines for EMF Radiation:
In 2008, Government of India adopted the Guidelines developed by the International
Commission on Non-lionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) for Electromagnetic
radiation from mobile towers, which are as follows:

Frequency Range

Power Density (Watt/Sq.Meter)

400MHz to 2000MHz

f/200

(f : is the frequency of operation in MHz)

Since, the cellular GSM services are being operated at 900 MHz and 1800 MHz
frequency band in India, the permissible Power Density is 4.5 W/Sqm for 900 MHz
and 9 W/Sqm. for 1800 MHz.
2.0

Amendment in Licence Agreement of Telecom Service Providers:

The licence agreement of the Telecom service providers was amended for adhering
to ICNIRP guidelines vide DoT letter 842-998/2008-AS-IV/13 dated 4/11/2008.

3.0

Issuance of Test Procedure by TEC for EMF Testing

TEC, the Technical arm of the DoT, prepared and issued Standard Test Procedure
for measurement of EMF level from BTSs vide document no. TEC/TP/EMF/001/01
SEP 2009.
4.0

Directions for Submission of self Certification

Instructions were issued to all Telecom service providers vide letter No. 80015/2010-VAS dated 8th April 2010, for compliance of ICNIRP guidelines by way of
submission of self certification of all the Base Transmitting Stations (BTS) to
respective TERM Cells, the field units of DoT, for meeting the above EMF radiation
norms. All new BTS sites should start radiating only after submission of selfcertificate to respective TERM Cells.
5.0

EMF Audit by TERM Cell:

The TERM Cells test up to 10% of BTS sites randomly at their discretion.
Additionally, the BTS sites against which there are public complaints, are also tested
by TERM Cells. The testing is done as per procedures prescribed by Telecom
Engineering Centre (TEC). TERM Cells have tested more than 19,658 BTSs so far
and all are found to be conforming to the prescribed EMF norms.
6.0

Provision of Penalty

If a site fails to meet the EMR criterion on testing, there is provision of levying a
penalty of Rs. 5 lakh per BTS per service provider. Service providers must meet the
criterion within one month of the report of TERM cell in such cases, after which the
site will be shut down.
7.0

Constitution of Inter Ministerial Committee

Based on media reports and public concerns, an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC)

consisting of officers from DoT, Indian Council of Medical Research (Ministry of
Health), Department of Biotechnology and Ministry of Environment and Forest was
constituted on 24.08.2010 to examine the effect of EMF Radiation from base stations
and mobile phones.
Inter-ministerial committee (IMC) in its report, examined the environmental and
health related concerns and indicated that most of the laboratory studies were
unable to find a direct link between exposure to radio frequency radiation and health;

and the scientific studies as yet have not been able to confirm a cause and effect
relationship between radio frequency radiation and health. The effect of emission
from cell phone towers is not known yet with certainty. Inter-ministerial committee
(IMC) has examined 90 international and national studies/reference papers, related
with the EMF radiation, before finalizing the report.
However, IMC recommended for lowering the mobile towers EMF exposure limits to
1/10th of the existing prescribed limit as a matter of abundance precaution and
recommended the following limits:
Type of
exposure
General
Public

8.0

Frequency Range
400-2000 MHz
2-300 GHz

Power Density
(Watt/Sq. mtr.)
f/2000
1
f :frequency in MHz.

Acceptance of Recommendation of the Committee

The recommendations made by Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) were accepted by

Government and directions in this regard were issued to the Mobile Operators vide
DoT letter no. 800-15/2010-VAS (pt.) dated 10.04.2012 making the new norms
applicable from 01.09.2012, so that the Telecom Service Providers may adjust their
networks to comply with the new norms.
9.0

Action On Structural Safety of Towers

Some State Government / Municipal Corporations have formulated their guideline

and issued instructions to regulate erection of mobile towers. As a proactive step,
Central Government has constituted a committee to propose model guidelines for
uniformity in setting up of towers on land and rooftops as well as their structural
safety, which may be suitably adopted by various State Government.

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