Italy’s telecoms regulator has warned that 3G networks may breach legal radiation levels.
A member of the Italian telecoms regulator ITA, Commissioner Alessandro Luciano, said at the weekend that it may be illegal for 3G operators in Italy to build their networks. The country’s strict limits on electromagnetic radiation could be breached if two transmitters are built within 15-40 miles of each other – making a fully featured network almost impossible.
It seems certain that Mr Luciano is sensationalizing the situation to ensure that sensible guidelines are drawn up. He also said, there is no set of rules and this is a big responsibility of state authorities. The ITA and the government need to draw up national guidelines that allow the construction of enough transmitters, whilst also keeping people nearby happy. While this may well involve the rival operators sharing networks, it’s unlikely to make 3G impossible.
However, it does draw attention to the health concerns associated with 3G. While there’s no proven connection between transmitters and medical problems, it was reported earlier this month that local authorities in the UK might reject applications to build masts on health grounds.
But health concerns may well not have a particularly negative impact on 3G roll-out at all. For a start, network sharing also appeals to operators’ wallets. To save money, Germany’s six operators will build just three networks between them. In Sweden, the five operators will build just two networks outside the biggest cities. Indeed, the effect of health concerns may be positive for operators, encouraging regulators to set aside anti-competitive worries and allow sharing.
Moreover, health worries may actually promote the building of extra transmitters. If there is a health risk from mobile radiation, the greatest danger will come from handsets rather than from transmitters. And handsets can use 1000 times more power when there is a weak signal than during normal operation, maximizing health risks. Given that so many Europeans own mobile handsets, the best move from a public health point of view could well be to build as many transmitters as possible.
