Responsible network expansion

WHO weighs in on health concerns related to mobile connectivity

According to a GSMA report, mobile technologies and services generated $4.1 trillion of economic value added (4.7% of GDP) globally in 2019. This figure will approach $5 trillion (4.9% of GDP) by 2024 as countries increasingly benefit from the improvements in productivity and efficiency brought about by increased take-up of mobile services.

However, the radio towers that are necessary for mobile connectivity are still often met with suspicion and fears of adverse health effects, despite scientific evidence to the contrary.

In a review of hundreds of scientific studies, the World Health Organization (WHO) found no convincing scientific evidence indicating that the extremely low frequency signals from base stations cause adverse health effects. The radio waves used for mobile connectivity are equivalent to other spectrum bands used for radio and television for over a century.

Base stations are necessary to ensure a smooth network experience and continuous coverage. With more base stations, there are fewer dropped calls, faster download speeds, and less video buffering. Every year, mobile data consumption increases in Thailand, reaching 11 gigabytes per user per month in 2019.

Not only they are essential to human activity, but these base stations are safe. The World Health Organization (WHO) reviewed 15 years of studies on the potential relationship between radio frequency (RF) fields from base stations and cancer. The WHO found no evidence that RF exposure from the transmitters increases the risk of cancer.

Presently, over six million base stations exist worldwide and Thailand alone counts 60,000 sites nationwide. Mobile networks have now been in existence for over 30 years in Thailand and all network transmission equipment must be tested and certified by the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications commission (NBTC). These inspections are in line with the international standards recommended by the WHO and International Telecom Union, a specialized agency responsible for issuing international telecommunication rules.

dtac is firmly committed to strictly following all relevant guidelines and regulations to ensure that our customers can benefit from reliable mobile connectivity without any negative impact to their health.

Furthermore, telecommunications are essential to the delivery of healthcare and education, particularly with recent increases in distance learning and telemedicine. Beyond hospitals and schools, mobile connectivity also supports the country’s economy. A report by Frontier Economics and the Telenor Group indicated that industrial sectors that make heavy use of telecommunications represent 65-75 percent of gross value added in the region.