India Doubles 5G Radiation Limit to 10 W/m²
NEW DELHI: The Indian government is set to double the permitted electromagnetic field (EMF) power density limit for 5G base stations, raising it from 5 watts per square metre to 10 watts per square metre, The Economic Times reported.
The revised norms, expected to take effect next month, bring India in line with international benchmarks recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and followed in a large number of countries.
The change is intended to help telecom operators extend coverage from individual towers more effectively as 5G data traffic continues to grow. Higher permitted emission levels allow signals to travel farther, potentially reducing the number of additional sites needed for network expansion and lowering associated capital costs.
Background to the Regulatory Shift
India has historically maintained stricter EMF exposure norms than the levels advised by ICNIRP, which provides guidance to the World Health Organization and national authorities on radio-frequency radiation.
The country initially adopted ICNIRP guidelines in 2008 but tightened them significantly in 2012, setting limits at roughly one-tenth of the international reference values. Last year, the permissible power density for higher frequency bands was raised to 5 watts per square metre.
The latest revision restores the ceiling to the 10 watts per square metre level recommended by ICNIRP for frequencies between 2 GHz and 300 GHz.
Telecom operators had long argued that the previous tighter limits, while workable for earlier generations of mobile technology, constrained efficient 5G deployment because of differences in spectrum use, network architecture and traffic patterns.
Impact on Operators and Network Planning
The higher limit is expected to benefit all major operators, though the immediate advantages may differ. Vodafone Idea, which is still expanding its 5G footprint, can design and roll out its network around the revised parameters.
Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, which have already built substantial 5G coverage, are likely to gain through more efficient utilisation of existing sites and lower incremental expenditure for capacity upgrades.
By enabling wider coverage per tower, the change could help maintain service quality in densely populated and high-traffic areas without a proportional increase in the number of base stations.
Approximately 137 countries, including most members of the European Union as well as the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore, already follow the 10 watts per square metre standard or equivalent ICNIRP-aligned limits.
Around 135 nations base their regulations on ICNIRP guidelines. India’s move therefore closes a long-standing divergence with the majority of international practice.
Industry stakeholders have pointed to scientific reviews indicating that exposures within ICNIRP limits do not produce established adverse health effects. The revised rules continue to set a clear upper bound on emissions from base stations while giving operators greater flexibility in network design.
The revised limits are scheduled to come into force next month, after which operators are expected to adjust their deployment and optimisation strategies accordingly.
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