Last update - 00:00 12/09/2006
Wireless companies using IDF bases to skirt antenna regulations
By Eran Gabay, Haaretz Correspondent
About 200, or one-third, of the Mirs cellular phone provider's transmission antennas are located on Israel Defense Forces bases, obviating the need for permits and strict radiation monitoring, TheMarker has learned. In recent weeks the IDF has agreed to heighten the network's reception by installing mobile antennas on army bases. An agreement to that end was signed between Mirs and the IDF about a year ago.
"There is no monitoring of IDF installations via permits," Dr. Stelian Gelberg, Radiation and Audio Noise Commissioner of the Ministry of the Environment said. "However, we perform tests around the bases and can demand explanations from the army and take measures against the base as well."
The arrangement allows Mirs to avoid paying permit and land betterment fees. The latter can cost thousands of shekels per site. Pelephone, despite having ended its cell phone service contract with the IDF in October 2005, still maintains about 50 antennas on army bases.
Mirs issued the following response: "Mirs' communications sites meet the Environment Ministry's standards and regulations, and we receive the necessary permits for the sites." According to a statement issued by the cellular companies' forum, "Pelephone provides services to the security forces and not to the IDF, and acts in accordance with the demands placed before it."
The IDF Spokesperson's Office released the following statement: "In the framework of military activity, the IDF installs cellular antennas for military and security purposes only, according to IDF policy and in keeping with the necessary permits, including environmental permits and permits from the Chief Medical Officer."