GSM Masts, Towers Don’t Cause Cancer – NCC

Fears that GSM operators’ masts and towers can cause cancer and are harmful to human health were dismissed yesterday by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Mrs. Maryam Bayi, director, Consumer Affairs Bureau of the NCC, who made this known at the 77th edition of a consumer outreach programme in Kano themed; “Telecom masts and towers, effects on human health”, said it had been scientifically proven that the masts are not harmful.

“It has become imperative to correct the misinformation being propagated about the effects of masts and towers on human health. Research conducted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other technical research institutes have not yet shown any risk to human life as a result of radiation emanating from telecom equipment like mast and towers”, she said.

According to Mrs. Bayi, all telecom equipment coming to the country are being type-approved by the commission, with a view to ensuring compliance with international standards on health and safety.

On the outcry trailing services of GSM service providers, the NCC official said the Mobile Number Portability (MNP) was introduced to address hitches being faced by consumers.

“As you know, MNP is a service that enables consumers to move (port) to other networks without losing their original numbers. We are working on this and after sometime we are of the view that it would assist in strengthening the sector”, she said.