Turkish telecom authority issues directive allowing base stations in large parks, playgrounds

Eray Görgülü – ANKARA

The Turkish Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) has issued a directive that paves way for the establishment of base stations in large parks, even if they have playgrounds. 

“To this day base stations were not allowed to be set up in big parks with playgrounds. They would [base stations] be set up far from playgrounds; even though there was always a need, this always remained an obstacle. For example, there were no base stations established in ODTÜ’s [Middle East Technical University] forest, on Bilkent University campus, or Dikmen Park [all in Ankara] because they have playgrounds or kindergartens. But with this directive, we have lifted this problem,” BTK President Fatih Sayan has told daily Hürriyet.

The BTK has been overseeing the operations of base stations in a strict manner. Electromagnetic fields of the base stations must be under a certain level in line with the BTK regulations.

In line with a revised directive of the organization, published on the Official Gazette on April 16, base stations and relevant equipment will now be set up in large parks, but after “safety distance” to the playground is taken into consideration.

If pre-school and primary education institutions are located in multi-story buildings which also have offices, shops, or housing estates, fixed electronic communication devices that require security certificates will be banned from being installed on floors where there are education institutions.

If pre-school and primary education institutions do not have fences around them, the BTK will determine a “safety distance” on the site and issue relevant security certificates with the approval of its president, according to the new directive.