Radio Transmitter Site Registers

Mobile and wireless communications services need a network of antenna sites to provide geographic coverage and sufficient capacity for consumers.

Note: In order to present the wide range of both frequencies and powers used, compressed (logarithmic) scales have been used. Each rectangle shows the typical power (vertical) and frequency (horizontal) ranges used. (Adapted from National Guidelines for Managing the Effects of Radiofrequency Transmitters, Ministry for the Environment, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, New Zealand, 2000).

Radio transmitters operate at different frequencies and powers depending on their application. There are national and international rules that allocate frequencies for different purposes. As shown in the graphic broadcast AM and FM radio and TV transmitters operate at comparatively high powers (several thousands of watts). Mobile phone base stations and operate at moderate to low powers. Microwave systems used for point to point communications and mobile phones operate at low power.

A number of countries have implemented Internet based registers of radio transmitter sites that provide varying levels of information and accessibility to the public. Many, but not all, of these sites provide information on the levels of radiofrequency signals from installed transmitters.

Please provide links to additional sources so that we can expand this listing by sending an email to health@gsm.org.