09 September 2019

Poland’s telecom regulator Prezes Urzedu Komunikacji Elektronicznej (UKE) has urged the government to press ahead with regulatory changes related to permissible radiation levels that are key to rolling out next-generation 5G networks in the country in line with EU requirements. 

All EU members are obliged to have an operational 5G network in at least one city by the close of 2020.

However, Poland first has to raise the acceptable level for radiation emitted from the highly efficient base stations that must be built for 5G. 

“From the point of view of the Polish state, radiation standards for base stations are a major problem in the construction of 5G networks,” Marcin Cichy, the head of UKE, told the media. 

He added that “Poland will have to forget about 5G” if it does not allow for higher radiation levels from a single station, or build stations very close together to meet data transmission demand. 

Equipment suppliers have previously said that Poland needs to recalibrate power density limits (PEM) – among the most limited in Europe – to allow base stations to generate enough electromagnetic field to make the 5G network function. 

Cichy said that sticking to the current PEM limits would significantly reduce telecom operators’ willingness to bid for spectrum as it would increase the costs of rolling out the networks. 

 “If we want to meet the EU goal of launching 5G in Poland by the end of 2020, there are a few months left to convince investment funds and telecoms’ shareholders that this problem will be solved,” he added.