Transcript Slide 1

Policy formulation for
telecom towers (cell sites)
for Chandigarh Administration
Association of Unified Telecom Service Providers of India
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
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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.
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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.
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Typical Cellular Network – an illustration
Initial Stages (1-2 years)
Later (3-5 years onwards)
Less number of subscribers.
Subscribers increase rapidly (4-10 times
or more).
Less traffic generated by few subscribers.
Traffic generated increases substantially.
Cell radius comparatively large.
Cell radius reduces in size.
Cell site density less.
Cell site density increases.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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