An important news has come out for the country's telecom companies and their customers including Jio and Airtel. The Indian government has doubled the power limit of electromagnetic field (EMF) associated with 5G radio signals. It is believed that this decision will help telecom companies to expand 5G network and make better use of the existing infrastructure.
The EMF limits implemented for mobile networks in India till now were lower than many international standards. The telecom industry had been demanding to increase this limit for a long time. After the implementation of the new limit, companies will be able to use the existing tower infrastructure more effectively.
EMF limit increased from 5 to 10 watts per square meter
According to the report, the power density limit prescribed for 5G Base Transceiver Station (BTS) has been increased from 5 watts per square meter to 10 watts per square meter.
This change can help telecom operators to optimize their existing networks in a better way. Its benefit can be found especially in those areas where additional investment is required to install new towers.
However, this does not mean that the signal distance will directly double everywhere. Actual coverage is affected by many factors such as tower location, frequency band, buildings and local conditions.
There may be improvement in 5G network coverage
Telecom companies have long said that existing EMF limits pose some challenges in increasing network capacity and coverage. With the increase in the number of 5G smartphones and users in the country, the pressure on the network is also increasing.
With the implementation of the new limit, companies can make more effective use of existing BTS and other network infrastructure. This is expected to help improve network coverage and connectivity.
Jio, Airtel and Vi may benefit
Major telecom companies of the country can benefit from this change. Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi) will be able to use their existing networks more effectively.
This change can prove useful for increasing network capacity, especially in areas where the cost of installing new towers is high. Companies will get the option to upgrade and optimize the existing network instead of installing new towers everywhere.
New limit will be applicable from next month
According to the report, the increased EMF limits will become officially effective from next month. International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines specify a power density level of 10 watts per square meter for BTS.
Till now this limit in India was 5 watts per square meter. After the implementation of the new system, Indian telecom operators are expected to get more flexibility in 5G network expansion and optimization.
Overall, this change by the government can help telecom companies in increasing network capacity and making better use of infrastructure. However, the actual benefit to users may vary depending on their area, network band and tower location.