Developing website to show real-time mobile tower radiation: Department of Telecom

Kochi: The Department of Telecom is working on a website that will show real-time data of radiation being emitted from each mobile tower in the country and its exposure to people, a senior official said here.

"We are working on a web portal so that a person can see how much radiation he is exposed to," DoT Member (Technology) A K Bhargava said while speaking at an International Telecommunication Union (ITU) event.

Bhargava said the Department has started working with industry body Cellular Operators Association of India to develop the portal.

"It is in early stage. We are yet to see proof of concept for this project. Idea is that a person should be able see in real-time how much radiation a mobile tower in his proximity is emitting," Bhargava said.

UN body ITU also launched its first mobile application on cellular radiation to answer all queries and concerns of people.

"I am pleased to report that today we are launching a new product in this area, a mobile application providing an 'EMF Guide'.

"It offers an introduction to EMFs and their relationship with health, as well as various internationally agreed guidelines and standards designed to ensure safety in the use of mobile phones and other wireless technologies," ITU Director for Telecommunications Standardization Bureau, Malcolm Johnson said.

Bhargava said the government has an ambitious target to spread broadband and mobile telephony and for this it is important to address concerns among public about mobile radiation.

India allows only 10 per cent of radiation level to be emitted from mobile towers as compared to international norms preferred in most of the countries.

Bhargava said DoT has decided to conduct an awareness campaign to remove perception of health hazard from mobile tower radiation as there is no scientific evidence to prove any ill-effect on health at levels permitted globally.

A World Health Organization study in 2011 had pointed out that there are possible health risks associated with electromagnetic fields which need to be properly considered and reported during the roll-out of mobile-wireless technologies if the electromagnetic radiations are beyond certain limits.

Following protest from civil groups, India has reduced permissible level of radiation from mobile towers by 90 per cent as compared to radiation norms released by global body The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).