India is set to double the permitted electromagnetic field exposure limit for 5G base stations to 10 watts per square metre, in a move aimed at helping telecom operators extend coverage and manage growing 5G traffic with greater network efficiency.
The revised rules are reported to take effect next month, raising the current limit of 5 watts per square metre.
The decision marks the second relaxation of India’s 5G electromagnetic field, or EMF, norms in two years. The government had raised the limit from 1 watt per square metre to 5 watts per square metre in 2025. The latest move takes it to 10 watts per square metre.
Why India Raised 5G Limits
The relaxation follows a long-standing demand from the telecom industry, which has argued that stricter EMF limits can make 5G network expansion more difficult.
EMF limits regulate the radio-frequency energy that telecom equipment can emit. For operators, the permitted level has implications for how networks are designed and how much coverage can be achieved from individual sites.
According to the reported government decision, raising the limit to 10 watts per square metre will allow signals to cover larger areas from existing sites. That could reduce the need for additional sites as operators expand or strengthen 5G networks.
The change is particularly relevant as operators continue to invest in 5G infrastructure and seek to improve coverage and quality of service.
Operators Could Need Fewer Sites
The higher limit could have direct implications for the economics of network deployment.
Telecom operators have to balance coverage, capacity and infrastructure requirements when expanding mobile networks. If an existing site can provide coverage over a larger area within the revised regulatory framework, operators could potentially reduce the number of new sites needed for some network expansion.
The benefit is expected to be particularly relevant for Vodafone Idea, which is still rolling out its 5G network. According to Economic Times, the company could plan its network around the higher limit.
Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio, which have already deployed substantial 5G infrastructure, could also benefit through more efficient use of existing sites and potentially lower incremental capital expenditure, according to the report.
The change, however, does not mean tower construction will stop. Network requirements still depend on factors such as traffic density, spectrum, geography and the location of users.
India Moves Closer Globally
India’s EMF framework has historically been more restrictive than the international guidelines it adopted as a reference.
The country adopted ICNIRP-based norms in 2008 and subsequently made them more stringent in 2012. The permitted limit was later raised from 1 watt per square metre to 5 watts per square metre in 2025.
The latest 10 W/m² figure is being described as aligned with the applicable ICNIRP reference level. ICNIRP’s 2020 guidelines cover radiofrequency electromagnetic fields from 100 kHz to 300 GHz, including technologies such as 5G. Its exposure limits vary according to frequency and exposure conditions, so the 10 W/m² figure should not be treated as a single universal limit covering every RF frequency or exposure scenario.
Business Standard reported that similar norms are followed in around 137 countries, including countries such as the UK, Australia, Japan, South Korea and Singapore. However, country-level EMF regulations can differ in how the international guidelines are applied.
What It Means For 5G
For consumers, the immediate objective of the change is network coverage and capacity, rather than any change to mobile tariffs or handset specifications.
The government is effectively giving operators greater flexibility in how they deploy 5G infrastructure. A higher permitted power-density level could allow a site to serve a wider area, potentially improving coverage while reducing the pace at which new sites need to be added.
The policy comes as India’s telecom market continues to expand. TRAI released its latest telecom subscription report for July 2026 on August 28, providing the newest official data on the country’s wireless and broadband markets.
The practical impact of the revised EMF rules will depend on how operators incorporate the higher limit into their network planning. For now, the government’s decision represents a significant shift in India’s approach to 5G infrastructure, moving the permitted power-density level from 5 watts to 10 watts per square metre.
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