EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTS OF MTN ELECOMMUNICATION MASTS AND BASE STATIONS ON THE ENVIRONMENT OF ENUGU STATE

Abstract

The study evaluated the effects of MTN telecommunication masts and base stations on the environment of Enugu State, Nigeria. The specific objectives are to; examine the spatial distribution of MTN masts and base stations; identify the effects of MTN telecommunication masts and base stations on the residences.  Basic survey design and experimental were adopted for this study. A primary source of data was adopted for the study. The primary data were obtained from interviews, questionnaires, and geo-referencing. The population of this study comprises the three senatorial districts in Enugu state, which include Enugu North Senatorial District, Enugu West Senatorial District, and Enugu East Senatorial District. The total population is made up of 2,632,653. Taro Yamani formula was used to determine the sample. The sample is 400. The data were analyzed using ArcGIS 10.1 software. The statistical tools employed are: Tukey HSD and Games-Howell, Independent T-test, and ANOVA were used to test the hypothesis which compared multiple data of variance collected and its significant difference. The result revealed that there is a significant difference between the spatial distribution of MTN masts/base stations and population density in Enugu State, t (857) = 46.516, p = 0.000 <0.05, ω = 0.43, the Anova result of the significant difference between the effects of telecommunication masts and base stations and the residents within the study area is DF = 2, F= 29.4, p = 0.000 < 0.05, effect size (ω) = 0.25. We concluded that MTN telecommunication masts and base stations have a significant effect on the environment. We recommended that Telecommunication companies should endeavor to key into the regulatory policy of co-location of infrastructure as recommended by NCC and NESREA.