Posted by KEN NWOGBO, Deputy News Editor on
FEDERAL government yesterday assured that Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) base stations' emissions are not dangerous...
FEDERAL government yesterday assured that Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) base stations' emissions are not dangerous to inhabitants of areas where the equipment are located.
Different types and sizes of masts, towers and base stations are scattered on the Nigeria Skyline, raising health worries over emission from the equipment.
Minister of Environment, Chief (Mrs) Helen Esuene, said the emissions, as being regulated by the Ministry of Environment and Nigerian Communicatioin Commission (NCC), are not inimical to human health.
Meanwhile, MTN Nigeria Communication has announced appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He is Mr Ahmed Farroukh who takes over from Mr Sifiso Dabengwa who has run the Nigerian operation since 2004.
Chief Mrs Esuene also said in Ibadan Oyo State that emissions from base stations are non-ionized in nature and therefore distinct from x-ray, and are incapable of breaking chemical bonds in bioloical tissue.
The minister represneted by Controller of Environment Assessment, in the ministry, Mrs Folake Babade, explained that the base station antennas are typical with electromagnetic energy generated by transmitters operating at circa 20 watt in either the 900 or 1800 Mttz bands of the radio frequency spectrum.
She explained, "the radiation from base stations is of little consequences to have adverse effect on the safety of communities where they are sited."
Meanwhile, MTN Nigeria has announced the resumption of Ahmad Farroukh as Company Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO}. He takes over from Dabengwa, who has returned to South Africa to focus on his Group role as Chief Operating Officer (COO).
Mr Farroukh comes with a wealth of experience in the telecoms industry. He has most recently served as the Regional Manager, West Africa of Investcom and Managing Director of Scancom Limited, in which position he ran the Areeba Network in Ghana.
Dubai and London-listed Investcom LLC was recently acquired by the MTN Group. This will make the MTN Group one of the world's largest emerging market players in telecommunications and the leader in Africa and the Middle East, operating mobile networks in 21 countries, covering a population under license on a combined basis of approximately 488 million people and serving nearly 30 million subscribers.
Mr Farroukh, an MBA, belongs to a host of high profile professional bodies including the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the New York State Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Lebanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants.