Installations and Safety of Base Stations
Inspection of Mobile Base Stations
As part of telecom regulation, CTT has always paid attention to radio emissions safety. Currently all local operators must obtain licences from CTT, before installing and operating radio equipment such as mobile base stations. CTT shall perform tests on the corresponding equipment before licencing, to ensure the equipment adheres to the radio equipment technical standards, and the radio emissions adhere to international safety limits. Until now, we have not yet found any base station whose radio emissions levels exceed the related safety limits.
To evaluate Macao’s radio emission levels, the government invited the University of Macao to carry out studies on the radio-frequency (RF) radiation safety of mobile base stations in 2006, 2007, 2012, 2016 and 2020. Previous studies showed that the RF radiation levels of mobile base stations in Macao were in compliance with the safety standard of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). As the frequency bands continue to expand gradually and mobile base stations are deployed increasingly due to the launch of 5G networks, the RF radiation environment in Macao is expected to change. In view of this, the Bureau commissioned “UMTec Limited”, which is a subsidiary wholly owned by the University of Macao, to carry out the Study Project on the Radio-Frequency Radiation Safety in Macao in 2023. In summary this study reflects the fact that the RF radiation in Macao is generally at a low level. If anyone find it necessary, CTT may also arrange personnel to perform radio emissions testing, to alleviate their concerns.
In fact, mobile telecommunications networks with quality coverage are crucial in satisfying citizen’s daily communications needs, especially in emergency or poor weather conditions, it can also serve as a means for seeking emergency service. Therefore, CTT hopes to gain society’s understanding and cooperation, to support operators’ installation of base stations, as to further improve the mobile telecommunications networks.
