DoT wants cell towers to be quakeresistant

DoT wants cell towers to be quakeresistant


Amrita Nair-Ghaswalla
TNN

Mumbai: In a bid to ensure that essential services like telecommunication

do not break down during natural calamities, the Department of

Telecommunication (DoT) has brought out a draft policy on mobile

towers and has asked cellular service providers to adhere to certain

norms while constructing new towers.

Saying that the towers would have to be earthquake resistant, DoT has

specified that the design, fabrication and use of material should conform

to the standards set by Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Since there

was large-scale damage when the cyclone struck Orissa and even during

the Bhuj quake, the draft telecom policy paper states that there is an

urgent need to ensure that telecommunication services are not disrupted

in such disasters.

“The towers are erected in residential areas and on lease-rented

buildings that are spread all over towns and cities,’’ a senior DoT official

told TOI, on the condition of anonymity. “The buildings over which the

towers are erected are not analysed for the associated risk of earthquake

and appropriate retrofit measures are not taken,’’ the official added,

alleging that “in some cases the towers are constructed even without

taking requisite permission from the concerned authority.’’

Addressing health issues, the draft tower policy has asked telcos to

follow international standards to cut down on radiation. In a bid to check

radiation from mobile towers, telcos have been asked to provide

certification of antenna emission levels.

“Cellular service providers shall ensure compliance of the International

Commission for Non-ionizing Radiation Protection and other

environmental standards,’’ notes the draft tower policy. It has also

outlined ways to encourage alternate sources of energy for telecom

towers to reduce pollution.

Natural disasters and seismic quakes are not the only cause for a break

in communication. Telecom services were recently disrupted in Noida,

Delhi.

Confirming to TOI that a draft policy has been in the works ever since

the standoff between telcos and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in

February, the DoT official said several considerations had been taken into

cognizance for future projections of telecom tower requirements.

The telecom draft policy, which is in the possession of TOI, has

enumerated that since the BIS code has been revised, the tower design,

fabrication, material and the erection of towers shall conform to relevant

BIS provisions in the relevant areas.

Cellular service providers have been asked to set up mobile towers in

non-residential areas and on multi-storied group housing buildings. They

have been asked to get towers in seismic zones inspected by structural

engineers to ensure that they are compliant with revised BIS codes.

Follow BIS norms


Saying that the towers would have to be earthquake resistant, DoT has

specified that the design, fabrication and material should conform to the

standards of the Bureau of Indian Standards


The draft policy has asked telcos to follow international standards to cut

down on radiation and provide certification of antenna emission levels
 
http://epaper.timesofindia.com/APD26302/PrintArt.asp?SkinFolder=TOI&artType=A... 08/03/2010