Telecommunication International Markets And Wireless Safety Issues

The telecommunication international markets are a large revenue source for today and a huge growth opportunity for tomorrow but at what price?

The market is huge, by any standard. Compared to the United States (295 million), Europe has far more people (730 million). The Europe, Middle East and Africa regions are home to 40 percent of the Fortune 2000 companies, many of which are becoming much more global and much more dependent on telecommunication products and services. With hundreds of millions of customers and soaring demand -- does it get any better than that for the telecommunication industry with the revenue potential of a whopping: $3-$5 billion a year?

There's no shortage of competitors in these regions ready and willing to meet the needs of the unsuspected consumer. Verizon, BT (formerly British Telecom), Equant (part of France Telecom), Cable & Wireless, Nexagent, Vanco, T Systems (part of Deutsche Telekom) and Colt Telecom are some of the more prominent players.

A large percentage of the United States based telecommunication companies revenue today come from Western European countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands. But the buzz lately is; that the fastest growth will come from the region's periphery -- Scandinavia, Eastern European nations like the Czech Republic and Croatia and parts of the Middle East such as Qatar and Dubai.

The money is flowing and so also are the major players in the telecommunication industry. But there's a little problem! There's a wireless monkey on their back and it's not letting go, it's the issue of electromagnetic pollution. The rapidly growing health concern related to wireless and land-line EMF emitting devices such as cell phones, cordless phones, cell phone towers, electrical power lines and much more.

The continuing debate between a potential health epidemic, independent research institutes, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the telecommunication industry should be labeled as the "Early Warning Replay Cover-Up".

Starting with Dr. George Carlo, a leading researcher, public health scientist, and epidemiologist who was hired by the cell phone industry back in 1993 as Chief Scientist for the world's largest research effort into wireless safety, a 25 million dollar program. In 1999, his research funds were not renewed, and the industry sought to discredit him. His findings on the dangers posed by cell phones included, disrupting cardiac pace makers, penetrating the developing skulls of children, compromising the blood brain barrier, and most startling, inflicting genetic damage that is a known diagnostic marker for cancer.

Public awareness has been growing as bits and pieces of recent media reports are released, validating and discrediting each others findings. But on March 18, 2005 a federal appeals court, based on scientific evidence that links cell phone usage to DNA damage, brain tumors, Alzheimer's disease, cancer and more... "Ruled cell phone makers could be sued in state court over claims that wireless equipment emits unsafe levels of radio frequency radiation."

Safety standards for cell phones and other EMF emitting devices vary from country to country. It took decades for governments to respond to early warnings about tobacco, radiation and asbestos. And with cell phones, a relatively new technology with worldwide subscriptions approaching 1.7 billion and marketers turning their attention to children, should we have similar concerns?

In 1856 the Lancet medical journal debates health effect of tobacco. In 2005 tobacco was found to be responsible for one in 10 adult deaths worldwide.

In 1896 injuries from X-rays were noted by scientists, including Thomas Edison. In 1990 risk of radiation cancer found to be up to 5 times greater than previously thought. In1996 European Union sets limits for occupational exposure to X-rays.

In 1898 UK factory inspects or warns of harmful effects of asbestos dust. 1918 U.S. insurers refuse to cover asbestos workers' claims. 1998 - 99 European Union and France ban all forms of asbestos. 2000-01 World Trade Organization upholds ban against Canadian appeal.

1983 Motorola launches first commercial cell phone. 1993 man claims on CNN that his wife died of tumor caused by cell phone. U.S. Cell phone industry funds and launches research to prove cell phones are safe. 1999 Cell phone industry insider says serious health risks are being ignored. 2004 U.K. Health Protection Agency warns about non-essential use by children. 2005 U.S. Federal Appeals Court ruled cell phone makers could be sued in state court over claims that wireless equipment emits unsafe levels of radio frequency radiation.

With the emerging of new markets and the supply and demand of modern wireless technology; the billion dollar telecommunication industry will continue to seek out additional revenue sources. With sites set on their targets; they will move forward, even with that monkey hanging on their back. The cell phone/ telecommunication industry continues to deny the existence of a problem, and governments around the world continue to sort out both legal and ethical entanglements with the industry that render them impotent in terms of protecting consumers. It's a shame that the industry that we all depend on for our telecommunication needs cannot learn from early warnings and lessons from the past. In the end the public will suffer and the price we pay will be much greater than the industry can ever produce. What price will that be? The price of our Children!