Not all of these innovations are clear to people. Recently, technical services of telecommunications companies more often face discontent of the population about resent construction of the mobile towers near their homes. Without knowing the principles of operation of such stations, many people believe that they are harmful to the environment and health. And this is quite understandable.

In the early twentieth century, people were concerned about the possible adverse health effects when using electric lights and wired phone service. However, no adverse effects were observed, and these technologies, as we now see, are indispensable part of everyday life. Clearly, understanding and proper perception of new technologies depends on how the most troubled part of the population perceives the risks and benefits of its use. Society often makes resistance only because of lack of knowledge and a sense of hidden danger.

Over the last decade, several hundred thousand studies on the consequences of the signal of RF devices on people have been made, so a lot of information has been collected on this matter. It is no accident the World Health Organization was forced to declare that neither of recent examinations confirmed that RF fields from mobile phones and base stations have a negative impact on human health. The WHO’s published guidance “Establishing a Dialogue on Risks from Electromagnetic Fields” clearly concludes: “The currently available scientific evidence suggests that the effect of low-intensity fields (such as those emitted by mobile phones and their base stations) does not lead to adverse consequences for the human health.”

About how the situation with the control of the base stations goes in Uzbekistan, we decided to ask an expert, the technical director of Ucell mobile operator Sait Eryilmaz.

“The main document showing safety of a base station or digital radio-relay links is the so-called “Sanitary passport of radio facility”, which is issued by the State Center for Epidemiological Surveillance or its regional offices, based on measurements on-site,” says Sait Eryilmaz. “The sanitary passport is indefinite and is valid until the reconstruction of the object, that is, change of its technical parameters. In addition, site security is confirmed annually by measurement protocols that are carried out by inspectors of the State Center for Epidemiological Surveillance. Now the operation of our facilities involves contractors, and they also undertake annual health measurements, as well as annual testing of electrical equipment, electrical wires and cables.”

Just how closely parameters of erected stations are monitored is showed, among others, by the fact that the construction of such a facility should be consistent not only with the State Center for Epidemiological Surveillance but other authorized bodies. Only after the safety project of a site is established, the Center for Electromagnetic Compatibility issues a permit for its construction.

Often people living near base stations complain of some radioactive radiation allegedly emitted by plants. However, radio facilities provider are not radioactive, they are only a source of low-intensity electromagnetic radiation.

“Sanitary rules and norms established for our country (particularly SanPiN № 0096-00 “Sanitary norms and rules to protect the public from exposure to electromagnetic fields generated by radio objects”), in terms of allowed values of the electromagnetic radiation is 10 times tougher than similar rates in Russia, and 100 times stricter than in Europe,” Sait Eryilmaz said. “It speaks about how much attention is paid to the health of the population in our country.”

The expert also said that Ucell is familiar with this problem and are taking steps to inform the public. In addition, despite the absence of restrictions, the company does not establish base stations near children areas, schools, kindergartens, children’s hospitals, and placing radio objects in the residential buildings is made in strict accordance with the regulations of 2.08.01-05 “On residential buildings”.

Construction of new stations across the country is needed to expand the coverage of the population with communication. Each mobile operator has a network development plan providing for the commissioning of new stations and transceivers, ensuring the quality of communication in the neighborhood. “Design and construction of new radio facilities is based on specific regulations,” Sait Eryilmaz continues. “For example, we know that the number of subscribers that can communicate simultaneously without overloading is 16 people on one transmitter. Number of transmitters at the base station depends on its configuration and up to date a maximum of 18 transmitters with 6 transmitters on each sector. Thus, one such base station can serve up to 288 people. Based on the density of the population in a particular region or area, the number of required base stations is calculated.

Hardly anyone doubts the importance of the social development of the telecommunications sector in the country. Communication now comes in places where previously people only hoped for the appearance of phones in the foreseeable future, could only dream of the emergence of the mobile Internet. Now, these dreams become reality.

And for those who worry about their health and well-being of loved ones in the form of another mobile station, we again refer to the opinion of experts, who claim that the available scientific evidence and the existing system of control can include cellular base stations for the most environmentally and health friendly communication systems.