Policy formulation for telecom towers (cell sites) for Chandigarh Administration

1. Policy formulation for telecom towers (cell sites) for Chandigarh Administration Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India

2. Overview of Telecom Services in Chandigarh (Punjab Telecom Circle) • No. of licensed Operators: 8 (7 operators have launched services and 1 operator is to launch in Q4/2004). • Technology used: CDMA (4 operators) & GSM (4 operators) – both are world-class digital technologies for cellular mobile telephone service. • Date of launch of services: 1997 onwards • Subscriber Base (as on 31st August 2004) • Punjab: 30.60 lakhs • Chandigarh: ~ 6.12 lakhs

3. Overview contd… Allocation of Wireless Spectrum by Govt. of India: • Spectrum (frequency) is a limited finite resource allocated for different wireless applications to different users. • Telecom services is one of these such applications. • Present allocations by GoI for telecom services: • CDMA: 800 MHz band • GSM: 900 & 1800 MHz band • Efficient utilisation of existing allocations calls for increase in cell sites since there is a spectrum constraint.

4. Cellular Architecture • Cellular architecture by its very nature calls for a contiguous arrangement where signals are transmitted from one site to another like a chain – handoff of signals from one site to the next contiguous site while the subscriber moves. • No voids (blank pockets) can exist as it will result in call disruption or calls will drop due to poor / no signal in the handsets. • Cell radius – typically 350 m. • As the number of users increase and their need for mobile communications results in higher traffic, which calls for increase in no. of cell sites.

5. Typical Cellular Network – an illustration Initial Stages (1-2 years) Later (3-5 years onwards) Less number of subscribers. Less traffic generated by few subscribers. Cell radius comparatively large. Cell site density less. Subscribers increase rapidly (4-10 times or more). Traffic generated increases substantially. Cell radius reduces in size. Cell site density increases.

6. Concerns expressed by Authorities • Height of the towers & aesthetics - to blend with the surroundings • Structural safety of towers • Health hazards • Pollution control – air (smoke) and noise • Flying / aviation hazards • Residential Areas

7. Height & Aesthetics Issue: • Height (25-30 m from ground level) is necessary for clear line of sight for radio waves (signals) to have effective coverage. Industry viewpoint: • Cell-sites to be erected in back lanes (not visible from main roads). • Existing architecture (civil constructions eg. water tanks) to be used. • Micro-cells to be used on street lights, poles, etc. • Building rooftops to have pole mounted antennae / rooftop towers (lesser height) to blend with building exteriors. • Environment friendly architecture on roundabouts can be constructed on which antennae can be mounted. • Camouflaging with appropriate colours to blend with surroundings.

8. Structural Safety Issue: • Structural stability and safety aspects. Industry Viewpoint: • There is no compromise on structural safety. • Industry meets stringent structural safety standards. • Industry already complying by submitting structural certificates from qualified engineers when site approval is sought.

9. Health Hazards Issue: • Probable impact on health, heart or on brain of location of towers in residential areas. Industry Viewpoint: • No evidence has been collected internationally to prove that emissions are harmful to human life. • WHO has done extensive research which can be examined on their website to exhibit level that radio waves are not health hazardous.

10. Pollution Control Issue: • Air and noise pollution effects on environment. Industry Viewpoint: • DG sets used by operators are complying with noise and emission levels as prescribed by CPCB.

11. Flying / Aviation Hazards Issue: • Cell sites may cause obstruction in flight path near the airport. Industry Viewpoint: • SACFA (GoI Committee) which has membership of IAF and AAI approve each and every cell site location in the country. • SACFA coordinates with field units (airports, IAF bases) before granting approvals to verify these concerns. • No approvals given by IAF & AAI for such cell sites which obstruct flight path, therefore approved sites cause no obstruction.

12. Residential Areas Issue: • Requirement of cell sites in residential areas. Industry Viewpoint: • No cell sites in residential area would create pockets where there is no service. • Cell sites required for commercial services. • Health, Structural safety and pollution issues - Already being complied with for commercial and institutional areas – not different for residential areas in any manner. • Present ban must be revisited to remove these deficiencies.

13. Residential Areas (contd…) Why should this be allowed? • RF planning in network design mandates cell sites within residential areas to maintain contiguous nature of cell sites – any void / blank pockets would lead to disruption. • No cell sites would mean poor Quality of Service – call drops, voice breakages, no signal for in-building coverage. • Situation leads to a violation of license conditions which mandate 90% in-building coverage to measure rollout obligations. • VVIP residential area - Ministers / Politicians, Bureaucrats, business community - the hub of decision-makers cannot use their mobile phones. High degree of complaints on service providers for no service.

14. Sharing Infrastructure • Operators on an average share 15% of their total sites with each other. • All operators continuously explore possibilities of sharing of cell sites. Why all cell sites cannot be shared? • RF Planning varies between operator to operator - location, height and distance of cell sites is variant between each operator – is dependent on subscriber base and traffic in the network. • Radio interference problems leading to poor QoS / no service. • Structural safety norms allow only two operators to share a single site.

15. Conclusion Industry Expectations: • Simple, transparent and easy to implement procedure for installation of cell sites and consequent growth of mobile services. • Quick and time bound approvals so that network expansion is not hindered. • Cell site installations in Residential areas to be allowed.