GSM Europe and its 130 Mobile Operator Members Endorse First Implementation Report on Good Network Rollout
Review of 'Good Practice' Recommendations on network rollout demonstrates community health and environmental concerns are being addressed
28th
January 2003 - Group of the GSM Association-
announced the first Implementation Review of the base station
deployment 'good practice' recommendations. Launched over
a year ago, the GSME self-regulatory initiative has made clear
progress in addressing community health and environmental
concerns about network rollout and base station siting.
In November 2001, GSME announced a series of self-regulatory
measures - 'Good Practice Recommendations for Network Rollout'.
The objective of these measures was to improve communications
and consultation to address the community challenges presented
by the continued rapid growth of mobile communications.
The implementation review highlights that the 'good practice'
recommendations are beginning to achieve their goals: improved
data availability to national and local authorities and other
key stakeholders, more site sharing initiatives when feasible,
enhanced consideration of environmental sensitivity and more
information available on the operation of base station facilities.
'The review of our recommendations demonstrates that GSM Europe
and its mobile operator members are helping to ensure that
the right balance is struck between enabling development and
access to mobile services in Europe and enabling operators
to address new planning policies which are restricting network
deployment opportunities and the community issues presented
by the implementation of additional network infrastructure
for 2G and 3G services,' said Kaisu Karvala, Chair GSM Europe.
'GSM Europe recognises that concerns about the development
of the mobile industry should be addressed in an open and
transparent manner and this review shows that our members
are working more closely with their communities to address
and minimise their concerns,' added Karvala.
European mobile operators and the GSM Association are also
supporting quality research programmes at EU and Member State
level based on the World Health Organization (WHO) research
agenda. This research will ensure any identified gaps in the
knowledge are filled and that guidelines for limiting both
public and occupational exposure to RF are scientifically
based, rather than the arbitrary values being imposed by some
Member States.
Notes to Editor:
About GSM Europe
GSM Europe is the European interest group of the GSM Association,
the premier global body behind the world's leading wireless
communications standard. GSM Europe represents around 130
operators in 50 countries/areas in Europe and counts around
380 million subscribers. The GSM Association is responsible
for the development, deployment and evolution of the GSM standard
for digital wireless communications and for the promotion
of the GSM platform.
About the GSM Association
The GSM Association (GSMA) is the world's leading wireless
industry representative body. It consists of more than 660
second and third generation wireless network operators working
collaboratively to define, prioritise and communicate requirements,
as well as key manufacturers and suppliers to the wireless
industry. The Association's members provide digital wireless
services to more than 787 million customers (end December
2002).
The GSM family of wireless communications platforms account
for approximately 72 percent of the total digital wireless
market today. The GSM
Association is a unique organization, with truly global reach,
offering a full range of business and technical services to
its members. For more information, visit the website at www.gsmworld.com.
GSM is a registered trademark, registered and owned by the
GSM Association.
For further details, please contact:
Kiki Walravens
Communications Manager GSM Europe
Tel: +32 15 27 59 06
Mob: +32 472 293 858
Fax: +32 15 27 03 21
E-mail kiki.Walravens@pi.be
Or:
Liz Macfarlan
Communications Dept
The GSM Association
Tel: +44 207 5180533
Fax: Fax: +44 207 518 0531
Email: lmacfarlan@gsm.org
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