By Allieu Sahid Tunkara
Orange Sierra Leone, the country’s leading Telecoms Company is committed to ensuring the health and safety of the people of Sierra Leone in the provision of mobile phone services.
In the achievement of its all-important objective, the company erects masts in various communities in Sierra Leone.
Masts make use of electromagnetic radiation, a form of energy which have both electric and magnetic component and is propagated through space in transmission of the signal.
The masts erected by the GSM operator is meant to enhance communication throughout Sierra Leone.
The company’s authorities have said: “There is no risk posed to health by our masts across the country.”
Orange SL officials made the statements in response to “growing myths and concerns” among citizens that the company’s towers and masts constitute a danger to the health and safety of people.
“We are using equipment compliant with international standards and manufactured by internationally recognised vendors like Ericsson. Radiation measurements were conducted, last time, for Metuchen compliant, and radiation is very low,” the company authorities stated.
By the country-wide erection of towers and masts, Orange SL has been largely credited for making major strides possible through investments in Infrastructure.
The construction of the masts, authorities say, is in direct response to the growing demand for mobile phone services coupled with the growth of new technologies.
“It is necessary to further increase the infrastructure available to ensure an acceptable level of network coverage, quality of service and quality of experience,” the Company authorities said.
The company officials also said the company had more towers, and would erect them in compliance with expert recommendations.
“We are not saving money by deploying fewer towers. We have more masts in the country and we are continuing to invest for the benefits of our customers,” Company officials told Nightwatch.
“Orange SL is worldwide company, and we strictly follow ITU recommendations,” the authorities emphasised.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the country’s environment regulating institution, maintains an uncompromising stance in its professionalism and strictness as to where Orange SL must erect its masts.
In the midst of a seeming mythical health concerns, EPA has come in to allay such fears in clearing the telecoms company which it referred to as ‘environment compliant.’
“This has helped in a great way to dampen whatever harmful effects might now have become obvious,” Orange SL said in a press statement.
The company further stated EPA investigations have provided strong evidence of Orange SL masts pose no health challenge to communities.
Orange SL has, for several years, declared its relevance to national development by becoming a vital part to its customers’ lives and livelihoods.
It has made it so much simpler, easier and cheaper to transact business, move money, and conduct research for school or work and manage relations with families and friends.
The company was acquired in July, 2016 and has recorded a very large customer base in Sierra Leone making it the most preferred network owing to its quality and affordability of its products and services.
Sierra Leoneans are of the view that Orange Mobile Company has been central in making services available to large sections of the population although much remains to be done to increase the penetration of mobile services in the country, particularly in the most remote or hard-to-reach communities.
Orange SL is Environment Safety Compliant
