Cell Towers Near Your Apartment: What You Should Know

Israel has thousands of active cell antennas installed on rooftops, utility poles, dedicated towers, and even advertising frames. With 5G deployment accelerating, the number of antennas is growing every year.

Every antenna requires a permit from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and approval from the National Communications Authority. Each antenna is registered with its exact location, operator, and technology type (3G/4G/5G).

The data is public — but accessing it through government databases requires downloading Excel files and interpreting technical data. Schuna automates this: search any address and see all antennas within 300 meters on a map.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Israel's Ministry of Health position: radiation from cell base stations is "not proven to be dangerous" at regulated levels. However, WHO classifies radio-frequency radiation as "possibly carcinogenic" (Category 2B) — meaning more research is needed.

In practice: the vast majority of studies show no measurable biological harm from base station antenna exposure at permitted levels. Your smartphone — held centimeters from your brain — produces significantly more personal exposure than a tower 50 meters away.

That said, Israeli buyers are highly sensitive to this issue. An antenna visible from the living room window is a factor that genuinely affects property values — regardless of the scientific debate.

Antennas within 50 meters: considered a significant negative factor by most buyers. Can reduce property value by 5-15%, especially for family apartments.

Antennas 50-150 meters away: a grey zone. Some buyers care, others don't. Disclosure is important — hiding known antennas from potential buyers can create legal liability.

Multiple antennas on your building's roof: generates income for the va'ad bayit (building committee) through rental fees from telecom companies, but increases exposure levels and may deter buyers.

Schuna checks all registered antennas within 300 meters of any address in Israel and displays them on a map with distance, operator, and technology type. Source: Ministry of Environmental Protection.

Also check: are there antennas on the roof of the building you're buying into? Look at the roof during your visit, and ask the va'ad bayit about existing and planned antenna installations.

For 5G: small cell antennas are being deployed at street level in increasing numbers. These are less visible but more numerous. The deployment is ongoing, so current absence doesn't guarantee future absence.