Bahrain’s telecommunication authorities have been granted more powers to monitor masts and take action against violators, a report said.

The Cabinet's decision aims to regulate the sector and ensure organisation after several violations were reported in setting up masts, according to the report in the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

"The Ministry of State for Telecommunication Affairs will now be the only authority handling masts taking firsthand powers from all ministries and government bodies currently dealing with the different phases of licensing," said Minister of State for Information Affairs and Official Government Spokesperson Sameera Rajab during a Press conference.

"The new authorities will enable the ministry concerned to organise spaces between masts, their specifications and end the set-up of masts without proper permits as done at the moment in a number of cases."

Rajab dismissed claims that masts were harmful to human health and the environment, saying an international specialised assessor formed a report, which stated Bahrain's emission levels were less than average, meaning masts were not harmful to human health and the environment.

"We in the government as well as others in legislative and elected bodies are concerned about the safety of the public and surroundings and for that we wanted to make sure the set-up of masts was done accordingly and have for a while imposed a temporary ban until that issue gets settled," she said in response to questions by journalists.

"When things got cleared (by the report) we allowed the set-up of masts, but under criteria, unfortunately some have violated it and for that we have taken legal action.

"The government will now work harder to achieve more regulations and organisation to set up masts taking always into consideration the welfare of the public,” she added. – TradeArabia News Service