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| Ultimatum on phone masts | |
| Saudi Arabia | Created: 24 Sep 2009 |
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TELECOM companies could be given by the end of the year to remove illegal phone masts on rooftops across the country or face legal action. Bahrain's five municipal councils are also planning to cut off electricity to homes with illegal masts to force companies get the proper licence. Councillors claim that telecom companies are visiting neighbourhoods and tempting needy families with a monthly amount of up to BD1,000 to use their rooftops for mobile masts. An agreement has now been reached with Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs Minister Dr Juma Al Ka'abi to hire an international company to assess the situation in Bahrain and suggest plans for the installation of masts in the future. "We have no problem with the setting up of masts, if that's necessary for the development of the telecom sector, but we don't accept it being done in the present manner," said Northern Municipal Council chairman and joint councils anti-masts campaign head Yousif Al Boori. "What is the logic behind setting up masts on rooftops rather than in open grounds, or on top of poles? "Is it because tempting poor people is easier than getting permission from the government bodies concerned? "It is easy for a multi-million dinar company to pay to BD1,000 monthly per home where the masts are set up, rather than pay the government 10 times that amount. "It is also difficult for us to remove the masts without a court order to enter homes with illegal masts, but that doesn't mean our hands are tied. "We plan to cut off electricity to homes that don't have the proper licence." Mr Al Boori said that wars between neighbouring families had also erupted as each was now an agent of a different telecom company. "Each company bought itself a rooftop, and each household is trying to promote the company that is paying it, something that has led to arguments between residents," he said. "On the other hand, families who do not have a mast on their rooftops, are also complaining that they were the victims of a possible health hazard and insist that their neighbours should be made to remove the masts, either peacefully or by force. "Studies on the Internet show that these masts do not pose any danger at the moment, but there are fears that emissions may be dangerous in the future." Mr Al Boori said that a lack of planning on the part of authorities concerned with the setting up of masts, was the main reason behind the problem. "There should be a plan on how many masts are required in each area, where they would be installed and how, but the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) doesn't have that planned at the moment," he said. "We have no problem with the masts, but they have to be installed properly, and when we require people to get approval for every step they take to build a home, such as connecting electricity, the same has to be done with masts." Mr Al Boori said that Dr Al Ka'abi had to hire a specialised company to assess the situation. "Hopefully the company will get things in order in the coming months, but that doesn't mean that telecom companies will not have to remove the masts before the end of the year or face legal action," he said. The Muharraq Municipal Council had already agreed to seek court orders to have the masts removed from homes before working with other councils to come up with joint measures. TRA officials were not available for comment. |
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| Source: Gulf Daily News, MOHAMMED AL A\'ALI, 24 Sep 2009 | |
| «Latest ‹Forward News item: 4324 Back› Oldest» |