Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers Cellular Operators Association of India

of India
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PRESS RELEASE

No adverse impact on health from low level of Electro-Magnetic

Fields (EMF) Propagated from Towers: COAI and AUSPI

COAI and AUSPI held a Workshop cum Press Briefing on “Radiation from Mobile Towers”- Myth Vs Reality
”Eminent doctors, DoT Officials and scientists addressed the audience to dispel the myths and apprehensions
associated with EMF radiation from Mobile Towers

Pune, 11th November, 2010: COAI (Cellular Operators Association of India) and AUSPI (Association of
Unified Telecom Service Providers of India) held a workshop cum press briefing on “Radiation from Mobile
Towers”- Myths Vs Realities. The workshop aimed at “dispelling the myths” related to alleged health hazards
from EMF radiations, by citing extensively from various study findings & research from the most independent
organizations of the highest repute. The workshop included participation from eminent doctors from varied
specialist fields like Neurology, Cardiology, and Pediatrics, senior officials from Ministry of
Communications & IT and eminent scholar & academicians from IIT Madras and Thiagarajar College of
Engineering. Together the eminent panelists briefed the audience on the various studies which have been
conducted world wide, adoption of safety guidelines (ICNIRP) in India and most importantly myths related to
alleged health hazards due to low level of electromagnetic waves from mobile towers.

In order to verify the levels of radiation from mobile towers, the Industry associations recently commissioned
an independent study to carry out measurement of emissions from various locations in Pune. The study was
carried out by, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai (IITM), (2) Thiagarajar College of
Engineering, Madurai (TCE) and (3) Centre of Excellence in Wireless Technology, Chennai (CEWIT).

The measurement results showed that all the places in Pune where the measurements were made on 30 th
October 2010 were much below the compliance limit of ICNRIP standards.

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Shri S.C. Khanna, Secretary General, AUSPI, in his opening address remarked, “Cellular Mobile
Communications is around 10 – 15 years old in India however in the west the same has been available for
more than 20 – 30 years.

It is pertinent to note that RF exposure of the public started many years ago when radio, television
(broadcasting stations) came into being, however no long-term effects have been observed so far.”

Mr. Rajan S. Mathews, Director General, COAI, while making the presentation on “Radiation from Mobile
Towers”- Myths Vs Realities, said, “It is pertinent to dispel the myths surrounding the EMF emitted from
mobile towers amongst the public and bring to the public the correct and accurate information based on the
scientific evidence, studies and researches done over the past 2 to 3 decades by expert panels such as WHO,
ICNIRP, FDA (USA). He further added that international agencies looking into the health and safety of
mobile communications have refuted the misconceptions and have agreed that the scientific research do not
demonstrate any health risks from the use of communication devices or towers.”

“Also it is important to understand that the RF radiations emitted by Mobile Communication Systems lie in
the non-ionizing part of the electromagnetic spectrum and these radiations do not have enough energy to
break the bonds that hold molecules in the cells together. Thus, the exposure to EMF Radiations emitted from
Mobile Systems cannot produce ionization or cause any genetic damage.

And, the RF emissions from mobile phones and base stations are some hundreds times lower than the levels
at which the first health effects begin to be established,” he further added.

The senior officials from the Ministry of Communications & IT explained to the media about the adoption of
ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection Board) standards for the telecom
sector in India which will ensure abundant precaution and limit the exposure from the base stations and
phones.

Further Prof. Dr. P.R. Goundan & Prof. Dr. S. Raju, added that during the extensive measurements carried
out in Pune the results even indicated that even the cumulative emissions from mobile towers were hundred
times lower than the laid out international standards.

The workshop was presided by eminent doctors that included, Dr. Om Prakash, MD, DM, Neurology, Dr.
Nitin Abhyankar, MD, ERS, Physician & Chest Specialist, Pune, Dr. Sanjay Bafna, MD, Pediatrician,
Vatsalya Children Hospital, Pune, Dr P R Goundan, Jt. Director,

CEWIT, IIT, Chennai, and Dr S. Raju, Professor & HOD ECE, Thiagarajar College of Engineering,
Madurai.

Shri T R Dua, Dy. Director General, COAI, concluding the workshop remarked, “This workshop would go a
long way to highlight the right and truthful message and thus facilitate qualitative improvement in making our
lives better/ simpler and thanked members of the media and all the luminaries to have come all the way to
highlight the very important issue.”

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About COAI:
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) was constituted in 1995 as a registered, non-profit, non-
governmental society dedicated to the advancement of communication, particularly modern communication
through Cellular Mobile Telephone Services. With a vision to establish and sustain a world-class cellular
infrastructure and facilitate affordable mobile communication services in India, COAI's main objectives are to
protect the common & collective interests of its members.
(http://www.coai.com/)

About AUSPI:
Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India (AUSPI) is the representative industry body of
Unified Access Service Licensees providing telecom services in the country with CDMA technology. AUSPI is
a registered society and works as a non-profit organization - Delivering the promise of improved Access,
Coverage and Teledensity in India. (http://www.auspi.in/about-us.asp)

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