Telecom Lead India: India has implemented stringent
mobile radiation standards effective from September 1.
This follows concerns raised by a number of research
reports in India and abroad.
New mobile handsets need to comply with SAR Value of
1.6W/KG.
From September 1, 2012 India will be among the
select few countries in the world to have stringent EMF (Electromagnetic
Frequency) Radiation Standards.
Indian standards will be 10 times more stringent than
more than 90 percent countries in the world.
India is the second largest telecom market based on the
number of subscribers.
Mobile Towers (EMF Radiation Norms)
Electromagnetic Frequency exposure limit (Base Station
Emissions) has been lowered to 1/10th of the existing ICNIRP exposure
level.
Telecom Enforcement Resource & Monitoring (TERM)
Cells have been entrusted with the job of conducting audit on the self
certification furnished by the service providers. TERM Cell will carry out test
audit of 10 percent 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.
For non-compliance of EMF standards, a penalty of Rs
5 lakh is liable to be levied per BTS per service provider.
The BTS site details i.e. self certification,
registration with TERM Cell, test results etc. is proposed to be provided
on DoT web site for General Public information.
Mobile Handsets
All the new design of mobile handsets shall comply with
the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) values of 1.6 W/kg averaged
over 1 gram of human tissue.
The mobile handsets with existing designs which are
compliant with 2.0 W/kg averaged over 10 gram of human tissue, will continue to
co-exist up to 31st August 2013. From September 1, 2013, only the mobile
handsets with revised SAR value of 1.6 W/kg would be permitted to be
manufactured or imported in India.
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 2012. Test results
from international accredited labs will be acceptable in the interim period.
The manufacturers in India will provide self declaration
of SAR value of the handset.
Suitable amendments in the Indian Telegraph Rule under
Indian Telegraph Act 1985 are being enacted in support of ensuring compliance
of new SAR values for handsets.
Manufacturer’s mobile handset booklet will contain safety
precautions.
All cell phone handsets sold in the market in India will
comply with relevant standards and shall be available in hand free mode.
SAR Test Laboratory:
SAR Test Laboratory is being set up in Telecom
Engineering Centre for testing of SAR value of mobile handsets imported/
manufactured in India.
New National SAR Standards from Telecom Engineering
Centre
National SAR standards from Telecom Engineering Centre
are being finalized.
Measuring Instruments:
DoT is procuring EMF radiation measuring
instruments for TERM cell units.
Outsourcing for EMF radiation measurement for BTS
towers is also being considered.
A scientific study in India-specific context is being
undertaken jointly by Dept. of Telecom and Dept. of Science & Technology in
collaboration with ICMR, MOEF & Min of Science & Technology to derive
norms based on credible scientific evidence taking into account diversity of
Indian social context.
Guidelines to State Government
Department of Telecommunication has released Guidelines
covering BTS Towers so that some consistency gets evolved on setting up of BTS
towers. Guidelines have been placed on DoT website.
TEC Test Procedures Document for Service Providers and
Term Cell Units
TEC has revised the Test Procedure for measurement of EMF
elaborating the methodology, calculations, measurements and report formats for
verification of EMF compliance for BTS towers in accordance with new standards
effective from 1st Sept. 2012. This will be applicable for all Mobile
Service Providers and Term Cell Units to verify compliance.