Industry disagrees to most recommendations on mobile radiation

Disagreement over government's recommendation on reducing specific absorption rate (SAR) to 1.6 watt per kilogram averaged over six minutes

PTI | August 4, 2011




Telecom industry players have disagreed on most of the recommendation made by inter- ministerial committee on radiation from mobile phone and towers for safety of people in the country.

Industry bodies namely COAI, Indian Cellular Association, GSM Association have expressed their disagreement to government's recommendation on reducing specific absorption rate (SAR) to 1.6 watt per kilogram averaged over six minutes.

This was stated by minister of state for communications and IT Milind Deora in a written reply to Lok Sabha on Wednesday. The business organisation have expressed disagreement to the proposal made by government to lower SAR level which at present is 2 watt per kg.

Countries like Canada and US have already lowered the SAR level to 1.6 watt per kg. Associations such as Mobile manufacturers forum (MMF) of Hong Kong and telecom service provider Vodafone Essar have also disagreed with this proposal.

Similarly, Cellular Operators Association of India, GSM association, Vodafone Essar, MMF are against government's proposal to lower radio frequency power density to one-tenth of the existing level keeping in view the trend adopted by other developed countries.

The committee has recommended that mobile towers should not be installed within the premises of schools and hospitals but MMF, COAI, GSM association and Vodafone Essar have disagreed to the proposal.

These set of players have also disagreed to government's recommendation of using low power transmitters on mobile towers. Out of 16 recommendations made by government, industry players have only agreed to follow five recommendations.

Industry players have agreed to provide SAR data information of the mobile handset on website and handset manual. They have also agreed to the display of radiation level in mobile network frequency range and providing guide on radiation to customers. The associations also commonly agreed on conducting long-term scientific research related to health aspect due to radiation exposure in India.

Comments

 

Other News

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.  

Cabinet approves viability gap funding to develop grid-scale energy storage systems

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Development of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems, with a total financial support of Rs.14,500 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to support the development o

Cabinet creates a pathway to absorb Agniveers in Defence Forces

An objective assessment in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency has brought out the outstanding performance of Agniveers in terms of skills, motivation levels, physical fitness and technological prowess. As envisaged earlier, based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered reg

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter