Base Station Recommendations are Being Complied with - Report

Switzerland's mobile radio operators are succeeding in their attempts to coordinate the location of their mobile radio installations outside the conurbations. This is the outcome of a study jointly commissioned by the Federal Offices OFCOM, SAEFL and ARE. The study examined how the guidelines concerning the construction of antenna installations for mobile radio networks are implemented. In particular, the study assessed the landscape effects outside the conurbations. The study showed that in this respect no specific measures should be imposed at present.

On instructions from the Department for the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) and the Swiss Conference of Directors of Building, Planning and Environmental Protection (BPUK), in 2000 a working group drew up recommendations for coordination of planning permission procedures for antenna installations. These recommendations were adopted by the Swiss Federal Communications Commission as binding conditions in the licenses.

Within the framework of a study commissioned jointly by the Federal Office of Communications (OFCOM), the Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forest and Landscape (SAEFL) and the Federal Office for Spatial Development (ARE), compliance with these recommendations was examined. The study showed that this compliance is good.

The study was limited to evaluation of landscape effects of installations outside the conurbations. Various databases of the Federal Offices were used as a base on which statistical evaluation was performed. The results were verified using on-site inspections and via interviews with the planning authorities of various cantons. The results were presented and discussed at a conference which brought together representatives from the network operators and the cantons.

On the basis of the results of the study, at present no additional measures should be imposed in the licensing procedure. The ideas and suggested improvements generated by the study and at the conference will be discussed by the relevant Federal Offices and pursued further if necessary."

Posted to the site on 3rd July 2003