Arbitrary Radio Frequency exposure limits: Impact on 4G network deployment

Monday 31 Mar 2014 | 2014 | Case Study | EMF and Health | EMF and Mobile Networks | EMF Policy | Europe | Research & Reports |

Arbitrary Radio Frequency exposure limits: Impact on 4G network deployment image

The GSMA welcomes the adoption of harmonised, Electromagnetic Fields/Radio Frequency (EMF/RF) exposure limit policies based on the international guidelines. In Europe exposure to electromagnetic fields is governed on the basis of the 1998 guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), which are also recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, there are some markets in Europe that have imposed significantly more restrictive EMF exposure limits. This already has an impact on network rollout and has started to have a detrimental effect on the deployment of technology for faster mobile broadband (4G/LTE) deployment, and may negatively impact the rollout of faster broadband in other Member States. This document analyses five specific cases where national/local legislations have negatively affected the rollout of faster mobile broadband: Brussels, Italy, Lithuania, Paris and Poland.

On the basis of the findings of this report, the GSMA:

  • Calls on the European Commission to promote good practice by Member States through harmonization of Electromagnetic Fields/Radio Frequency (EMF/RF) exposure limit policies based on the international guidelines.
  • Calls on Member States to follow the EC 1999 recommendation and latest SCENIHR opinion that exposure limit policies should be based on the international guidelines.
  • Calls on the European Commission and Member States to adopt evidence based policies that enable the deployment of mobile broadband and other wireless technologies.