Mobile Communications and Health

Strict compliance with the valid exposure limits ensures the safe use of mobile communications.

The limit values are based on comprehensive research findings. For more than 50 years, scientists – in Germany and at international level – have been analyzing the potential impact of electromagnetic fields on health. The expert committees of the World Health Organization and the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) set recommended limit values and regularly monitor them. To do so, they evaluate the latest research findings on an ongoing basis. In the opinion of these experts, mobile communications is safe and poses no threat to health, provided that the limit values are ensured.

This was again confirmed by the new ICNIPR Guidelines in 2020 and numerous national expert bodies in Germany, The Netherlands, UK, Northern European Countries and so forth.

ICNIRP Guidelines 2020

Yes. The limit of 2 watts per kilogram for cell and smart phones has been fixed in the EU Council's recommendation in 1999 and applies in Germany as well as in all other European countries.

Cell and smart phones must comply with the limit value even at maximum transmission power. The limit value guarantees that mobile devices can be used safely by all users.

All cell phones are designed not only to comply with the defined limit of 2 watts per kilogram but also to remain well below it (adaptive power control).

The limit is based on the recommendations of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), a committee of experts recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO). ICNIRP reviews the validity of the limit values on an ongoing basis. It currently concludes that it is safe to use mobile communications provided that the limit values are ensured.

SAR stands for "specific absorption rate". SAR is expressed in units of watts per kilogram (body weight) (W/kg). The SAR value of a cell or smart phone indicates the maximum degree to which the head may absorb electromagnetic fields during a phone call with the device.

All manufacturers check to ensure that their cell and smart phones comply with the exposure limit and publish the maximum values measured as the "SAR value" in their operating guides.

You will find information about the SAR levels of Deutsche Telekom's cell and smart phones at: www.telekom.de/sar-werte, in Telekom Shops and in the manufacturers' operating guides.

The European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) standardized the way the SAR level is measured in the year 2001. All manufacturers use this system to measure the SAR levels of their devices. 
Manufacturers check to ensure that their cell phones comply with the exposure limit of two watts per kilogram (body weight) (2W/kg) and publish the maximum SAR values measured in their operating guides. The provisions governing the SAR measurement system are described in international standard IEC/EN 62209.

The measuring system consists of a plastic object shaped like a head. It contains a special fluid, which has properties that cause electromagnetic fields to propagate in it in the same way as in human head tissue. The cell or smart phone which is being tested and which is transmitting at full power is held to the 'ear' on the plastic head. A measuring probe records the distribution of SAR in the liquid inside the head and calculates the maximum SAR level.

The SAR values published by Deutsche Telekom correspond with the maximum levels stipulated by the EU standard.

SAR values (German)

All SAR levels below the limit guarantee that it is safe to use the cell phone. All mobile devices sold by Telekom comply with the defined exposure limits.

Differing SAR values do not mean differences in safety, provided they lie below the exposure limit. According to the International Commission of Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), this applies to all user groups, i.e., includes particularly sensitive people.
However, some people feel better with a lower SAR level and use the SAR value as a selection criteria when buying a new cell or smart phone. All manufacturers therefore quote the SAR levels in the operating guides for their devices.
You will find information about the SAR levels of Deutsche Telekom's cell and smart phones at: www.telekom.de/sar-werte, in T-Shops and in the manufacturers' operating guides.

In all our national companies, the safety of mobile sites has to be confirmed by compliance declarations. The safety assessment is regularly performed by calculations or measurements for all mobile sites with more than 10 Watt transmitting power in order to show compliance to the nationally applied exposure limits.

In Germany, the Federal Network Agency (for electricity, gas, telecommunications, posts and railways, (www.bundesnetzagentur.de) checks that the limit values for mobile communications are complied with.

Inspection takes place on the basis of the technical data and construction documents prior to commissioning and each time a technical modification takes place on a mobile communications base station. If all requirements are fulfilled, the Federal Network Agency issues an operating license – the site certificate.

The site certificate defines the areas around every base station that must be kept clear for safety reasons. The safety clearances are derived from the exposure limits and ensure that people can reside permanently outside the safety area without any risks for their safety. As a general rule, the safety clearance around base stations for GSM, UMTS and LTE is several meters.

As well as issuing a site certificate, the Federal Network Agency checks at irregular intervals and without notice whether mobile communications facilities continue to fulfill the conditions for the operating license.

The mobile radio fields in publicly accessible areas and private homes are far below the limit values.

This is confirmed by measurements carried out since rollout of the LTE technology. All measurement programs come to the conclusion that: Readings at all measurement points were significantly lower than the valid exposure limits – even under extreme conditions (i.e., maximum load) and with additional loads from GSM, UMTS and LTE mobile communications facilities.

Measurements are also regularly performed in most of the European countries. As an example, the Pedion24 program in Greece is performed by scientific bodies and constantly reports on the nationwide exposure situation.

EMF monitoring by the Federal Network Agency

Yes. The effects of electromagnetic fields on human beings have been researched thoroughly over the last few decades. On the basis of this comprehensive knowledge base, different acknowledged expert groups have performed appraisals of research into mobile communications and health and repeatedly endorsed the exposure limits. Numerous expert bodies and authorities were unanimous in their conclusion that the state of research does not give cause to question the safety of using mobile communications provided that the exposure limits are complied. Among others these are the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2011, EU's independent scientific advisory committee SCENIHR (2014), International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) and the German Commission on Radiological Protection (SSK) both in 2011, the UK Research Program (MTHR) in 2014, Swedish Radiation Protection Authority (SSI) in 2014, Health Protection Agency, UK in 2012 or the Health Council Netherlands in 2013.

Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (Federal Office for Radiation Protection)

Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (Federal Office for Radiation Protection) about 5G

ICNIRP

EMF Portal

The Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) summarizes the findings in its recent 2013 brochure as follows: "The DMF findings have greatly reduced the knowledge gaps and thus improved the data base for assessing risk. A careful review reveals that the findings do not give any cause to question the protective effect of the existing limits."

Headed by the German Ministry of the Environment, the German Mobile Telecommunication Research Program (DMF) was executed in Germany between 2002 and 2008. With a total budget of EUR 17 million, the ministry sponsored more than 50 studies to examine the effects of electromagnetic fields. Mobile network providers participated in the project financially, providing a total of EUR 8.5 million. Responsibility for technical and administrative implementation lay with the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS).
Mobile communications technology is constantly evolving, while scientific methods and capabilities likewise continue to develop. From Deutsche Telekom's standpoint, further research is therefore meaningful and important. Although Germany's Mobile Telecommunication Research Program has ended, Deutsche Telekom has continued to support specific independent research, including projects launched as part of the environmental research plan by the Federal Ministry of the Environment.

German Mobile Telecommunication Research Programme (DMF)

BfS brochure (German)

So that you can use your cell phone to make or receive phone calls wherever you are, your phone needs a good connection to a base station in the near vicinity.

Each cell phone and also each base station has a transmitter as well as a receiver. High-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMF) are needed to transmit information between a cell phone and a base station. The information is then usually forwarded between base stations, and between a base station and the fixed network, over copper or fiber optic cables.
To ensure high-quality coverage, mobile communications requires a large number of base stations. Each base station can only handle a certain number of calls and transmit a certain volume of data. Each of them therefore only serves a narrowly defined area (known as the radio cell). An increasing number of users and increasing data rates therefore require a denser mobile communications network, i.e., more base stations.

In mobile communications, base stations and mobile devices automatically adjust their transmission power to individual transmission scenarios. In the case of a good connection, the transmission power is automatically reduced to a fraction of the maximum possible power. This saves cell phone battery capacity and reduces electromagnetic fields.

The transmission power of mobile communications antennas normally lies between 10 and 100 Watt.
Telekom base stations in the GSM network normally achieve transmission powers of four to sixteen Watts per frequency channel. The number of frequency channels for a GSM base station depends on the demand for phone calls and data transmission in a radio cell and lies between two and ten channels. The Telekom UMTS facilities normally have one or two frequency channels, each with a maximum transmission capacity of 20 Watts. In the case of LTE with one or two frequency channels, the transmission capacity is up to 40 Watts.

Building a mobile communications infrastructure is a complex, dynamic process in which various factors have to be taken into consideration. Deutsche Telekom sets up base stations wherever demand is high, where there are gaps in the mobile network and where the quality of the service needs improvement.

Since every base station can only handle a limited number of calls and transmit a limited volume of data, a large number of base stations are needed in places where many people make mobile calls - among them residential areas.
As it sets up the mobile communications network, Telekom collaborates closely with local authorities as representatives of the area's residents.
For example in Germany the planning and implementation cover the following steps:

• Firstly, Telekom calculates the optimal position for every new base station within the framework of its overall network concept
• Secondly, in accordance with the agreement reached by the mobile carriers and leading local associations, Telekom communicates its plans to the local authorities
• Thirdly, the parties search for a suitable alternative location that is agreeable to all parties in case Telekom and local government have differing views on the chosen site. In the process, Telekom also reviews sites proposed by the local authorities and gives these preferential treatment if they are suitable. In some cases it may be necessary to obtain building permission or approval from the historical monuments, nature conservation or aviation authorities

Together with the other network operators, Telekom signed a voluntary commitment for the German Federal Government as long ago as 2001 and an agreement with the leading national associations of local authorities in Germany.

In these, the mobile carriers promised to undertake a series of measures to improve consumer and health protection, to fund research and to cooperate with local authorities on the build-out of mobile communications networks.

The implemented measures were instrumental in toning down public debate about mobile communications and in improved cooperation among all parties involved in network expansion. This has been confirmed by evaluations carried out at regular intervals by independent reviewers. To mark the 10th anniversary of this date in 2011, Germany's carriers and the Federal Government confirmed continuation of the voluntary commitment. The current report was submitted to the Federal Environment Ministry in 2020.

Bundesumweltministerium (Federal Environment Ministry): Overview of the reports on voluntary commitment (German)

Yes. Even if they have a pacemaker implant, they can still use a cell phone. A minimum safety clearance of 20 centimeters between chest and cell phone is recommended to exclude interference with the pacemaker.

You should therefore not carry your cell phone in your breast pocket. However, this is merely an additional safety precaution, since the majority of pacemakers implanted today are resistant to interference from cell phones.
Patients with other electronic implants (e.g., insulin pumps) should consult their physicians about the resistance to interference of such devices.

Electronic appliances such as TV sets, radios and cell phones can interfere with each other and thus cause disruptions. However, most of the problems reported are barely noticeable and do not impair the device's functioning. One example is interference in a radio loudspeaker when someone standing close to the radio uses a cell phone to make a call.

To prevent this, electrical and electronic devices must meet the requirements of the electromagnetic compatibility standard (EMC). These requirements are defined in the European Union's EMC Directive and on national level by EMC legislation.

Cell phone usage in hospitals depends on individual regulations. According to the latest studies, it is not necessary to prohibit the use of mobile communications in hospitals altogether, since a distance of 3 meters is sufficient so that no disruptions to medical devices will be expected.

However, disruptions to medical devices by cell or smartphones cannot be fully excluded. For this reason, their usage is usually prohibited or limited, above all in operating theaters and on intensive care wards.
Mobile communications users should always observe the regulations and usage information provided in hospitals and doctors' treatment rooms and, if applicable, switch their mobile phones off.

Cell phones can be used to make calls in cars standing with their engines switched off as well as by passengers. For reasons of safety on the road, however, laws in Germany prohibit drivers from making phone calls without hands-free equipment or a headset while they are driving. Please note also that any diversion of the driver increases the risk of accidents.

In the context of safe cell or smart phone usage, it is important to know that the exposure limits are also complied with when you make a mobile call in your car. The car's metal bodywork shields connection quality slightly. However, this does not result in any significant increase in the electromagnetic fields emitted by the cell phone. The electromagnetic fields generated during car-based phone calls can be reduced by using an external antenna.

Cell phones are a valuable resource and should not be thrown away. Deutsche Telekom supports you in recycling and in many cases ensures that used cell phones are re-used. You can hand in used cell phones in our Telekom Shops or send them to us.

The Deutsche Telekom take-back system ensures that harmful substances are disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner, recyclable materials such as precious metals are recycled and functional devices are reused. Deutsche Telekom donates the proceeds to charitable organizations to support environmental and nature conservation projects. You can find all information on mobile phone take-backs at: www.handysammelcenter.de (German).

Circular economy