MCU18.0166 - Response to Information Request

                                                                   Fact Sheet
National Broadband Network Fixed Wireless
Base Stations and Health
Based on current research there are no established health effects from
the low level exposure to the RF EME from NBN base station antennas.
Introduction                                                 the telecommunications companies on the Radio
                                                             Frequency National Site Archive website, www.rfnsa.
The National Broadband Network (NBN) makes use of
                                                             com.au. The NBN sites may be located by searching by
fixed wireless communications links to provide high-
                                                             postcode or town.
speed broadband in areas beyond the reach of the
fibre network. Typically, this is where residential blocks   For typical 30-40 m high NBN base stations, the highest
are large and widely spaced.                                 EME exposure levels at ground level in the surrounding
                                                             area are typically thousands of times below the limits
The fixed wireless links use low level radiofrequency
                                                             of the ARPANSA RF Standard.
(RF) electromagnetic energy (EME) to communicate
between NBN base stations and small rooftop                  Where NBN base station antennas are mounted on the
installations on residences and business premises.           same structure as mobile phone base station antennas,
                                                             the ARPANSA EME reports provide the overall
Are NBN base stations regulated in Australia?                exposures from the different technologies combined.
The RF EME emissions from mobile phone base
                                                             Do NBN base stations cause any health
stations and other communications installations are
regulated by the Australian Communications and               effects?
Media Authority (ACMA). The ACMA’s regulatory                Health authorities around the world, including
arrangements require NBN base stations to comply             ARPANSA and the World Health Organization, have
with the exposure limits in the ARPANSA RF Standard.         examined the scientific evidence regarding possible
The ARPANSA Standard is designed to protect people           health effects from the RF EME emitted by NBN base
of all ages and health status against all known adverse      stations. Current research indicates that there are no
health effects from exposure to RF EME. The ARPANSA          established health effects from the low exposure to the
Standard is based on scientific research that shows the      RF EME from NBN base station antennas.
levels at which harmful effects occur and it sets limits,
based on international guidelines, well below these          Conclusion
harmful levels.                                              No adverse health effects are expected from
                                                             continuous exposure to the low RF EME emitted by the
How much RF EME are people exposed to from                   antennas on NBN fixed wireless base stations.
NBN base stations?
                                                             ARPANSA will continue to review the research into
The maximum levels of exposure of RF EME from                potential health effects of RF EME emissions from NBN
NBN base stations may be calculated from details of          base stations and other sources in order to provide
the equipment installed. These calculations are made         accurate and up-to-date advice.
available in the ARPANSA EME reports provided by

                                                    Useful Links
  ARPANSA fact sheet on RF EME                               WHO fact sheet on base stations
  www.arpansa.gov.au/RadiationProtection/basics/rf.cfm       www.who.int/peh-emf/publications/facts/fs304/en/
  The ARPANSA RF Standard                                    NBN Co Limited
  www.arpansa.gov.au/Publications/codes/rps3.cfm             www.nbnco.com.au

ARPANSA Fact Sheet – National Broadband Network Fixed Wireless Base Stations and Health          619 Lower Plenty Road,
Email: [email protected] | Web: www.arpansa.gov.au                                                 Yallambie VIC 3085
March 2015                                                           Telephone: +61 3 9433 2211 | Fax: + 61 3 9432 1835
                                © Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency 2015