India Revises 5G Radiation Limit: What It Means for Mobile Users

India is set to relax the electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation limit for mobile network equipment, raising the permitted power density for 5G base stations from 5 watts per square metre to 10 watts per square metre. The revised limit is expected to take effect next month and bring India's network radiation norms in line with the level recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

The change is aimed primarily at improving 5G network coverage and making infrastructure deployment more efficient. However, the revision does not mean that the radiation or Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) limit for mobile handsets has been doubled.

5G Radiation Limit Doubled

The government is raising the permitted EMF power density for a 5G base transceiver station from 5 W/m² to 10 W/m², according to reports published on Saturday.

EMF limits regulate the maximum radio-frequency energy that mobile network equipment can emit. The higher permissible level is expected to allow signals to cover a larger area from individual tower sites.

The move follows repeated requests from the telecom industry for regulations more closely aligned with international standards, particularly as India's 5G networks continue to expand.

Why India Changed The Norm

India had historically maintained stricter EMF limits than the levels recommended by ICNIRP. The country's power-density limit was earlier set at 1 W/m² before being increased to 5 W/m² last year.

The latest move takes the permitted level to 10 W/m², which is the ICNIRP-recommended level cited in reports on the government decision. The new threshold is also reported to be consistent with norms used in a large number of countries, including several European countries, the UK, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore.

What It Means For 5G Users

For ordinary mobile users, the most immediate potential impact is better network coverage, particularly in areas where operators are expanding 5G services.

A higher permitted power density can allow a base station to serve a larger area. This could reduce the need for additional sites in some locations and make network expansion more efficient.

The change could therefore contribute to improved connectivity and potentially faster 5G deployment, although the actual experience will depend on spectrum, network design, traffic levels and the operator's infrastructure.

No Change In Phone SAR Limit

A crucial distinction is that the revised rule applies to mobile network base stations, not the SAR limit applicable to mobile phones.

The Department of Telecommunications currently lists India's handset SAR requirement at 1.6 W/kg averaged over 1 gram of tissue. Mobile phones sold in India are required to comply with this limit.

Therefore, reports describing the latest development simply as India “doubling the radiation limit for mobile phones” would be misleading. The reported change relates to the permitted EMF power density of network equipment.

What Is SAR?

Specific Absorption Rate, or SAR, measures the rate at which the human body absorbs radio-frequency energy from a mobile handset.

The Department of Telecommunications says manufacturers and importers must provide self-declared SAR values for mobile handsets, while the Telecommunication Engineering Centre operates a laboratory for independent audits of handset SAR compliance.

The handset SAR limit and the EMF power-density limit for a mobile tower are therefore two different regulatory measures and should not be confused.

Impact On Telecom Companies

The revised tower limit is expected to benefit telecom operators by allowing greater coverage from existing infrastructure.

Vodafone Idea could particularly benefit as it continues its 5G rollout, while Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel may be able to improve the efficiency of their existing networks and reduce incremental infrastructure requirements in some areas.

The broader objective is to support network expansion as demand for mobile data and 5G services continues to rise.

Safety And Government Oversight

The Department of Telecommunications has a compliance system for EMF emissions from mobile towers. Telecom operators are required to submit self-certification for BTS sites, while DoT's Telecom Enforcement, Resource and Monitoring (TERM) units conduct audits to check compliance.

The department also says action can be taken when a BTS is found to violate prescribed EMF limits.

The latest relaxation therefore changes the permissible threshold for network equipment but does not remove the requirement for operators to comply with the revised regulatory limit.

What Mobile Users Should Know

India's reported 5G EMF limit revision is primarily a network infrastructure change. The permitted power density for 5G base stations is set to rise from 5 W/m² to 10 W/m², potentially allowing operators to extend coverage from individual sites and deploy networks more efficiently.

For mobile handset users, however, the existing 1.6 W/kg SAR requirement remains distinct and unchanged by this reported tower-limit revision.

The revised rules are expected to take effect next month, subject to the government's formal implementation process.