Do you also sometimes face problems like weak network while using 5G? If the answer is yes, then this problem will be resolved very soon. The central government has taken a major decision to eliminate the problem of network coverage, which has been a major obstacle to 5G rollout across the country. Users face a problem with 5G networks: signals weaken when the distance from the tower is too great, which has forced telecom companies to install towers every few meters. Now, the government has significantly relaxed the years-old strict radiation rules, which will directly double the signal range.
The government has relaxed the limits on electromagnetic field (i.e., radiation) for mobile networks. Under this decision, new regulations will come into effect next month, increasing the power density of 5G base tower stations from 5 watts per square meter to 10 watts per square meter. This government decision will allow mobile signals to reach farther. This will help telecom companies provide network coverage over a larger area from each tower, reducing network expansion costs and improving service quality as 5G traffic increases.
This relaxation in radiation regulations was a long-standing demand of the telecom industry. Companies argued that the old strict limits were posing a problem in effective 5G coverage.
For many years, India had been following much stricter radiation regulations than international standards. These standards are set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), which advises global agencies on the effects of EMF on health and the environment.
Initially, the power density limit in India was 1 watt per square meter, which was increased to 5 watts last year. Now, it has been increased to 10 watts per square meter, which is fully in line with ICNIRP’s global recommendations.
The new regulations will significantly benefit mobile operators. They will now be able to cover larger areas with fewer towers, significantly reducing the cost of installing new towers, i.e., capital expenditure.
This decision will be most beneficial for companies currently in the process of 5G rollout. Vodafone Idea can now plan its 5G network according to these new limits.
Meanwhile, Airtel and Reliance Jio, which have already deployed a significant portion of their 5G networks in India, will also benefit from better utilization of their existing sites and significant savings in future costs.
By adopting global standards, the signal from a single tower will now reach a greater distance. While this will benefit telecom companies, users will also not face problems like slow speeds.
India’s new 10-watt rule matches the rules of approximately 137 countries worldwide. These include most European Union countries, the UK, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore. Globally, approximately 135 countries follow ICNIRP guidelines. India first adopted these standards in 2008, but the rules were significantly tightened in 2012.
The old limits were somewhat appropriate for 2G, 3G, and 4G networks, but telecom companies argued that 5G technology and operating standards are completely different. Therefore, the same old limits are not suitable for 5G. In light of this, the government first relaxed the rules slightly last year and has now fully aligned them with global standards.