The economic crisis has not affected mobile phone users in Greece, where connections exceed fifteen million (15.2 million to be exact!), which shows that each resident has more than one phone number. In fact, a few years ago this proportion was even higher, since connections had approached twenty million.
At the same time, mobile telephony companies in Greece, in their effort to offer the best possible services to their customers, are installing more and more base stations (antennas) with the aim of wireless telephone coverage, even in the most geographically remote areas of the territory, a fact that is, in many cases, a field of confrontation between companies and residents of areas, who complain that their health is at risk due to exposure to electromagnetic radiation.
The above data were presented during a scientific event, on the topic: “Legal issues from the installation and operation of mobile telephony antennas”, organized by the Thessaloniki Bar Association. As mentioned at the event, mobile telephony has “conquered” the entire world, while fixed telephony is gradually declining and in a few years it is very likely to be abolished from the global telecommunications market, as happened in the previous century with the telegraph or even telex. Indicative is the fact that today, for the 7.2 billion inhabitants on earth, there are 6,915,000,000 mobile telephony connections, which means that 95.5% of the world's population has been covered. The increase in the use of mobile telephony has increased rapidly in recent years, as long as one takes into account that in 2001, the connections, at a global level, did not exceed 1 billion. In contrast, fixed telephone connections currently reach only 1,147,000,000, which corresponds to a mere 16.34% worldwide.
According to data presented tonight by Thomas Xenos, professor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Polytechnic School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 4,771 mobile phone antennas have been installed and are operating throughout Greece, of which 1,358 are in the Athens area and 468 in Thessaloniki. “Few of these antennas are visible. Most are covered – commonly camouflaged – as company representatives proceed to cover them up to avoid reactions, but also legal recourse from residents who believe that their health is at risk from electromagnetic radiation emissions,” said Mr. Xenos.
During the event, it was mentioned that most of the standards for determining the maximum permissible radiation limit, currently in force in the so-called Western countries, are almost similar, with the exception of some areas, such as Salzburg, Austria, where they are much lower.
The event was addressed by the president of the DSTH, Nikos Valergakis, and the mayor of Pylaia-Hortiatis, Ignatios Kaitezidis, who referred to the ongoing reactions of residents who are demanding the removal of the antennas located near the 2nd Primary School of Pylaia. A temporary decision was recently issued by the Single-Member Court of First Instance of Thessaloniki in this case, which temporarily prohibits both the placement and operation of a mobile phone antenna and any equipment-machine at the site. Also, the hearing of the interim measures filed by the Municipality of Pylaia-Hortiatis and the residents of the area was recently discussed and the relevant decision is expected.
Source: enikos.gr
