Ecobreves – CHILE: Historic Decision Against Cell Phone Antenna

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

Jan 12 2004 (IPS) - The Chilean Supreme Court on Jan. 6 ordered the removal of the cellular telephone tower from the historic center of La Serena, a city 460 km north of Santiago. The ruling stated that the antenna is an environmental and architectonic offense. The company Telefónica CTC Chile, based on Spanish capital, must remove the antenna and cover the costs of its relocation.

For the first time, Chile's highest court has issued a ruling on a case involving harm to the environment.

Telefónica made the curious decision to try “to disguise the antenna or dress it as a palm tree,” states the decision.