Telecom operators reportedly will not be required to submit self-certification of compliance with 5G electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure limits until December 31, 2025, following a four-month extension granted by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The mandate was originally set to take effect from September 1, 2025.
The extension was provided after telcos highlighted challenges, including the limited availability of testing equipment and the large number of 5G towers deployed nationwide. As of September 30, 2025, operators had installed 504,000 5G base tower stations (BTSs).
Earlier this year, the government revised India’s 5G EMF exposure norms, raising the power density requirement for a BTS from 1 watt per square metre (sq m) to 5 watts per sq m, in line with global standards. The change allows signals to travel farther while remaining stricter than international benchmarks. The International Commission for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) recommends 10 watts per square metre.
Telcos have argued for rules aligned with ICNIRP guidelines, citing global studies showing no adverse health effects from wireless technologies. Following the relaxation, operators were required to submit self-certificates, but the industry said compliance was not feasible given the scarcity of testing equipment.
Officials confirmed that while the DoT had urged telcos to meet the deadline, it agreed to extend the timeline after consultations. Operators had earlier sought a one-year extension, saying the September 1, 2025 deadline was operationally unfeasible.
