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The ban in Britain on mobile phone jamming systems is unlikely to be lifted despite irritation among nearly half of its population about mobile usage in public.
Tom Perrott, research director of the telecoms division of market information firm Taylor Nelson Sofres, told ElectricNews.Net that the introduction of legislation that will make mobile signal blocking systems legal is not a high priority for the UK government and probably will not be introduced in the short-term.
Perrott also said that factors such as the possible disruption of emergency mobile communications and 3G geographical location systems mean that the use of mobile jamming technology will continue to be outlawed in Britain.
However, such technology does have its upside, added Perrott. "Many mobile users and non-users feel that mobile phone usage can be irritating and they are keen to see measures taken to limit intrusion," he remarked. "Besides the actual frustration and annoyance caused by mobiles ringing during a performance or event, many people also feel that signals can endanger public safety by disrupting sensitive electronic equipment, particularly in hospitals."
This point of view certainly has the support of a large number of people, according to a survey carried out by Taylor Nelson Sofres. It found that almost half of all adults in Britain think that mobile phones should be banned in public places such as cinemas, restaurants and hospitals.
The survey of 1,032 adults also revealed that a third of Britons have had their enjoyment of a public event reduced by mobile phone usage.
Predictably, non-mobile phones users were most annoyed about the use of mobile phones in public places. Nearly two-thirds said mobiles should be restricted compared to 45 percent of mobile owners.
However, despite the high levels of annoyance, British people are more tolerant than some of their European neighbours. A similar study carried out earlier this year by TNS found higher support levels for mobile phone blocking technology among the French (85 percent), Italian (73 percent) and Finnish (72 percent). The latter two nations have very high levels of mobile phone penetration.
With Britain unlikely to follow the lead of Australia and Japan, which allow limited use of GSM blocking systems in public areas such as theatres, Perrott said other options needed to be explored. These included the introduction of less disruptive blocking technology and campaigns aimed at educating mobile users about where and when it is appropriate to use their devices or have them on.
"There have been new technological developments in this area, such as the testing in Japan of wall-lining materials which significantly reduce the power of radio signals, and it may be possible to avoid using jamming devices, but still making areas mobile-free," commented Perrott.
"A public education campaign would also be useful in persuading mobile users to be more consideration about making or taking calls in public areas in much the same way as some smokers now tend to only smoke in the vicinity of non-smokers with their permission," he added.
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