On February 5, 2025, Supreme Decree No. 5, dated January 11, 2024, from the Ministry of the Environment, was published in the Official Gazette. This decree establishes the electromagnetic radiation emission standard associated with telecommunications service equipment and transmission networks.
Some of the key aspects addressed by Supreme Decree No. 5 include:
Objective: To regulate electromagnetic radiation emissions from telecommunications service equipment and transmission networks to protect public health.
Effective Date: The standard will come into effect six months after its publication in the Official Gazette.
Title I – General Provisions: This emission standard applies nationwide and regulates telecommunications service equipment and transmission networks operating between 9 kHz and 300 GHz to safeguard public health.
Title II – Maximum Emission Limits, Compliance Deadlines, and Conditions: The decree sets maximum power density limits for telecommunications emissions in unrestricted access areas (10 µW/cm² up to 2700 MHz, 400 µW/cm² above 2700 MHz) and sensitive areas (5.8 µW/cm² and 100 µW/cm², respectively). Existing emitting sources will have 12 months from the effective date of the decree to comply with the standard, while new sources must comply upon commencing operations. In officially declared emergencies, telecommunications networks and systems classified as critical infrastructure will be exempt from compliance.
Title III – Supervision and Measurement Methodology: The Superintendence of the Environment (SMA) will oversee compliance with this standard, relying on annual reports provided by the Undersecretariat of Telecommunications (SUBTEL), which detail the operating emitting sources and any modifications. Additionally, operators of these sources are responsible for conducting annual measurements and submitting the corresponding reports to the SMA.
For further information on this matter, please contact: Javier Naranjo: jnaranjo@jdf.cl; Martín Esser: messer@jdf.cl; María Paz Valenzuela: mpvalenzuela@jdf.cl; Javiera Rodríguez: jrodriguez@jdf.cl
