Reliance Communications start GSM services

In addition to CDMA services, Indian telecom giant Reliance Communications may soon launch GSM services to its consumers with dual technology license from the government of India. Subscriber addition is expected to grow at the rate of 7 million a month. The company has targeted to cover 23,000 towns and 6 lakh villages under the GSM scheme by the end of this year. There will be thousands of additional towers to cover this fast-expanding subscriber base.

In spite of repeated news appearing in the news media, little attention is paid to the harmful effects of the radiation emitted by the mobile phones and the cell towers. Towers are erected on the buildings, near schools, and in fact they can be seen everywhere. The measured radiation levels in Mumbai city due to the towers is reported (in Mumbai Mirror) to be very much higher than the internationally stipulated limits.

There is a need for strict regulation to ensure that the manufacturers of the mobile phones and the service providers maintain the radiation emission levels much lower than the stipulated standards. Base stations near schools and crowded areas should be avoided. The regulators should also look into the safety of erecting antenna on the residential building tops and near schools.

There should be a dedicated regulatory body to issue guidelines, such as type-approval for mobile phones and daily time limit for mobile usage by the people. The RF radiation levels should periodically monitored in city areas and around schools. The readings should be displayed for public knowledge and for checking compliance with the set limits by regulators.

The government of India should wake up to this reality of more and more mobile phone usage, and ensure radiation protection of the population.