Signal levels from mobile base station antennas in Hamad Town and Jidhafs are very small and well below the legal limit

The measurement exercise was carried out following a request from Mr. Khalid Al Kaabi representative of Northern Municipality Council.

The results of the measurements were consistent with other measurements made by TRA at other locations as they showed that the signal levels at the site are well below the permitted levels documented in the Ministerial Order 4 of 2009 which are based on international best practises.

The strongest telecoms radio signal had a value of 0.68 volts per meter. This is 1.6% of the level permitted by Ministerial Order 4 of 2009. There were also a number of other signals which were much weaker. The total of all signals present (this includes all signals from telecoms, radio and TV) was 4.7% of the permitted level.

In addition to the measurements in Hamad Town, TRA also responded to complaints in the press regarding the installation of telecommunications masts in residential areas. Measurements were made in a compound in the Jidhafs area which showed that TV broadcast signals were about twice the level of signals from telecoms masts. Never the less, the total level of all signals measured was less than 1% of the permitted level.

TRA reassured residents in the Jidhafs area that it would ensure that telecommunications signals remained within the permitted limits by returning to take further measurements as and when new telecoms masts were switched on.

Phil Harris, Manager of Licensing and Operations at TRA stated that TRA would be pleased to measure signal levels at any site and welcomed enquiries from the public. Further, he added that antennas installed at the top of telecoms masts transmit signals in all directions and thus the signal strengths reduce quickly to very small levels as you get further away from the antenna and it is interesting that signal levels directly under the antenna, close to the base of the mast, are also very small. Typically, the levels of signals from base stations that we measure are lower than the levels that a user could experience when using a mobile phone close to the head.

Further Mr. Harris reassured residents that TRA was committed to ensuring that all telecommunications operators complied with Ministerial Order 4 of 2009 and that this would be achieved by continuing to measure signal levels from existing and new telecoms masts as they are installed.