Questions and answers

Frequently asked questions about radio waves and health

1. What kind of “radiation” is used by mobile phones and base stations?

Base stations, mobile phones and other wireless devices use radio waves, also called radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMF) or non-ionizing radiation, to send and receive speech, text messages and pictures as well as connect to the Internet for downloading and uploading information, web browsing, social media usage, etc. Radio waves have been used for a long time in different types of wireless communication, such as radio and TV broadcasting.

It is important not to confuse radio waves with radioactive radiation. An example of radioactive radiation is gamma rays, a type of ionizing radiation generated by nuclear materials.

2. What is the status of research on mobile communications and health?

Over the past 50 years a large amount of research on radio waves and health has been conducted.

More than 30 independent expert groups and health agencies, including the World Health Organization, have reviewed the available scientific data and have all come to the same conclusion: there are no established health effects from radio waves emitted from mobile phones and base stations complying with international limits.

Read more on the website of the World Health Organization (WHO).

3. Can mobile communications cause cancer or other health effects?

The vast majority of studies conducted over the course of many years has not established any link between adverse health effects and the radio frequency electromagnetic fields (radio waves) from mobile communication equipment, including mobile phones and base stations.

Read more on the website of the World Health Organization (WHO).

4. Are mobile phones and base stations safe?

The World Health Organization (WHO) states in its backgrounder on base stations and wireless networks: "From all evidence accumulated so far, no adverse short- or long-term health effects have been shown to occur from the RF signals produced by base stations" and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) writes on its website: “The weight of scientific evidence has not linked cell phone radio frequency radiation with any health problems”.

Read more on the websites of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

5. Are there any safety limits on human exposure to radio waves?

Independent expert organizations such as the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) have established exposure limits for radio waves based on many years of research. These science-based limits include large safety margins. ICNIRP is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the recommended exposure limits have been adopted by national authorities in most countries.

6. Why have some countries adopted more restrictive limits for base station exposure?

Authorities in some countries or regions have chosen to use lower limits, despite the availability of science-based international exposure guidelines, due to public concern often fueled by inaccurate or lacking information. Such arbitrary radio wave exposure limits do not provide any additional protection, since there is already a large safety margin incorporated in the international limits.

7. Do base stations and mobile devices meet safety standards and limits?

Base stations and mobile devices are designed, manufactured and tested to meet relevant radio wave exposure standards and regulations. Related product information on safe installation and usage is provided to customers and consumers.

8. Is it safe to be close to base stations?

Yes. Only in an area directly in front of the base station antennas can the radio wave exposure exceed the safety limits. The size of this area varies from a few centimeters up to 10-30 meters, depending on the type of base station site and the power transmitted. The antennas are installed in such a way that unauthorized people do not have access to this area.

Read more on the websites of the World Health Organization (WHO) and GSMA.

9. What are the exposure levels from base stations?

Base stations use relatively low power for transmission. The antenna output power level is typically between 20 watts and a few hundred watts in outdoor environments and around a few watts or less in indoor environments.

The intensity of the radio waves is drastically reduced with increasing distance from the base station antenna. Radio base station antennas are installed in such a way that the exposure levels are below established exposure limits for the general public. In fact, typical exposure levels are a few percent, or less, of the limits.

10. Will people who live in buildings with wall- or rooftop-mounted base station antennas be more exposed to radio waves than others?

No. To give coverage over a wider area, the antennas direct the radio waves away from the buildings they are mounted on. The antennas could be compared to the headlights of a car, which light up the road, but not the car itself. Inside and around the building, the intensity of the radio waves is below the exposure limits.

11. Are there any safety issues with indoor base station antennas?

Small indoor base stations and antennas, as well as WiFi access points, use very low output power to cover a relatively small area. In fact, the exposure levels are below the international limits even a short distance (0-20 cm) away from the antennas. Typical exposure levels in the indoor environments are a few percent, or less, of the limits.

12. Is it safe to place base stations near schools and pre-schools?

Radio base station antennas are installed in such a way that the general public exposure levels are below established exposure limits. The limits have been set with wide margins to protect everyone, including children and teenagers. Furthermore, typical exposure levels in the neighbourhood are a few per cent, or less, of the radio wave exposure limits.

13. Are there any safety issues with 5G and 6G mobile technologies?

Current 5G and future 6G equipment, whether it be mobile devices or base stations, must meet the same safety standards as the radio equipment used in earlier mobile networks. Existing international radio wave exposure limits are applicable for all the frequency bands that are used for 5G today and for 6G from around 2030.

5G and 6G base stations may use advanced antennas to transmit the radio signals in the direction of the connected user equipment. This technology is called beamforming, and it enables higher performance, e.g. data rates, while keeping the radio wave exposure levels below the exposure limits.

Although the number of connected devices is increasing with new mobile network generations, the overall exposure to radio waves is only marginally higher and still far below established limits.

14. What is Ericsson doing in the field of radio waves and health?

Ericsson employs rigid product testing and installation procedures with the goal of ensuring that radio wave exposure levels from our products and network solutions are below established safety limits. We also provide public information on radio waves and health, and we have supported independent research to further increase knowledge in this area. Between 1996 and 2018, Ericsson co-sponsored over 100 studies related to electromagnetic fields and health, mostly through the Mobile & Wireless Forum (MWF) in accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. To assure scientific independence, firewalls were in place between industrial sponsors and researchers.

15. Where can I find more information about mobile communications and health?

Extensive information can be found on the websites of:

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