Background
Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA) was established by the law No
39/2001 as an independent national authority to administer different sectors
offering public services, promote transparency, protect free competition and
provide inclusive service, as well as protect users’ rights.
In accordance with the Telecommunication Regulation Law, Rwanda Utilities
Regulatory Agency has the mandate to regulate the telecommunications sector,
enhance and deploy services in compliance with the most advanced technology
to meet user’s needs at the most suitable prices.
In addition to the above, Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency has the
responsibility to ensure that telecommunication infrastructures have no
adverse impacts on the environment and people living in their neighborhood.
The increased use of mobile phones and other modern wireless communications
devices around the world has raised public interest in the siting and aesthetics
of telecommunication masts/towers as well as possible health concerns
associated with exposure to electromagnetic emissions. These concerns relate
to both handheld devices, base stations, towers and masts. The lack of
regulations relevant to these particular points of interest would result in the
inadequate
siting,
construction
and
modification
of
numerous
telecommunication masts with the risk of introducing possible adverse visual
impacts to the landscape and environment
To this respect, RURA has developed guidelines that will set out the procedures
to be followed by operators and service providers in the rollout of
telecommunications base stations, towers and masts.
These guidelines will seek to minimize these effects as well as address issues
that may be of health concern with regards to radiation emissions from the
communication facilities.
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