Mobile telephones: A comparison of radiated power between 3G VoIP calls and 3G VoCS calls.
Jovanovic D, Bragard G, Picard D, Chauvin S. · 2014
View Original AbstractVoIP calls through apps generate 3.4 times more phone radiation than traditional calls, revealing hidden exposure differences in modern communication.
Plain English Summary
Researchers measured the radiation power from smartphones during voice calls, comparing traditional phone calls to internet-based calls (VoIP) like those made through apps. They found that VoIP calls emit about 3.4 times more radiation than traditional calls (0.75% versus 0.22% of maximum power), though both levels remained well below safety limits. This matters because millions of people now use VoIP apps for calling, potentially increasing their radiation exposure without realizing it.
Why This Matters
This study reveals an important but overlooked aspect of modern phone use: how we make calls affects our radiation exposure. While the researchers concluded that both call types remain within safety limits, their data shows VoIP calls generate over three times more radiation than traditional calls. What makes this significant is the massive shift toward internet-based calling through apps like WhatsApp, Skype, and FaceTime. The science demonstrates that different technologies create different exposure patterns, even when using the same device. Put simply, your phone works harder and emits more radiation when routing calls through the internet rather than traditional cellular networks. What this means for you is that the way you communicate matters for your EMF exposure, and this difference isn't reflected in standard SAR ratings that assume traditional calling patterns.
Exposure Information
Specific exposure levels were not quantified in this study. The study examined exposure from: 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1950 MHz
Study Details
The purpose of this study is to assess the mean RF power radiated by mobile telephones during voice calls in 3G VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) using an application well known to mobile Internet users, and to compare it with the mean power radiated during voice calls in 3G VoCS (Voice over Circuit Switch) on a traditional network
Knowing that the specific absorption rate (SAR) is proportional to the mean radiated power, the user...
In the framework of this study, the mean normalised power radiated by a telephone in 3G VoIP calls w...
Show BibTeX
@article{d_2014_mobile_telephones_a_comparison_2254,
author = {Jovanovic D and Bragard G and Picard D and Chauvin S.},
title = {Mobile telephones: A comparison of radiated power between 3G VoIP calls and 3G VoCS calls.},
year = {2014},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/jes201474},
}