corporate social responsibility complete report France ... - Orange

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guidelines for relay antennas. To check the
compliance of our facilities, we regularly
take field measurements near our masts.
These measurements are then made public
on national authority websites. The
measurements in Europe and Egypt show
exposure levels in the vicinity of our masts
that are well below ICNIRP thresholds.
promoting proper use of mobile phones
Information about the SAR, or Specific
Absorption Rate of a mobile phone, which
indicates the maximum level of radio waves
to which a user may be exposed, can be
found on our websites, in-store or in manufacturers’
leaflets. In addition, for customers
wishing to reduce their personal exposure
to radio waves, a hands-free kit is automatically
provided in the mobile phone packaging.
Information on proper usage of mobile
phones issued by the relevant public or
national authorities is conveyed by each of
our subsidiaries on their website or via any
other suitable communication channel.
Among the measures proposed, the use of
an earpiece reduces exposure to mobile
phone radiation by a factor of 10. In addition,
some relevant national authorities also
recommend that users should try to avoid
making calls in areas with poor reception,
by checking the number of reception bars
displayed on the mobile phone.
the status of research
The World Health Organization
(WHO), SCENIHR* and ICNIRP*
reviewed the scientific studies
on the health effects of radio
waves and concluded that
public exposure due to relay
antennas and access points
does not engender identifiable
risks for neighbouring
communities.
As far as mobile telephones are
concerned, the result of these
studies does not reveal proven
risks, although at this stage they
cannot be entirely ruled out.
That is why the health
authorities recommended
continued research in order
to check whether prolonged
exposure (greater than ten
years) could have effects on
health.
To date, none of the authorities
recommend lowering the
recommended public exposure
limits, as confirmed in 2009 by
the ICNIRP.
France: participation
in the radio waves debate
In France, France Telecom
participated in the round table
on “radio waves, health and the
environment” organized in May
2009 at the government’s
initiative. This reaffirmed the
lack of health risks for those
living in the vicinity of mobile
phone masts, considering the
weak levels of exposure, and
advocated the adoption of the
precautionary principle for the
use of mobile phones. Following
the round table, an operating
committee on modelling and
experimentation concerning
exposure and cooperation
(COMOP) was set up. In the
follow-up to COMOP, ministers
praised the constructive spirit
and quality of the discussions
between the stakeholders
in this forum.
an exemplary information
mechanism in Egypt
Mobinil has implemented a
comprehensive mechanism for
informing the public about radio
waves. An information booklet
answers the main questions
raised by mobile phones and
masts. Each month, the Group
organises meetings on the
subject among local
communities. In addition,
a raft of measures has been
implemented every year since
2001 to check emissions from
masts. In 2009, 1,100 masts
were inspected, with a 100%
compliance rate with the
international recommendations
of the ICNIRP.
a new research laboratory
on dosimetry
Orange Labs and the Telecom
Institute created a joint
laboratory in 2009, the WHIST
Lab, which bolsters the Group’s
contribution in the area of
dosimetry. The Whist laboratory
is participating in a new National
Research Agency project known
as “Kidpocket”, which studies
the exposure of children to
radiation from new technology.
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