Abstract: A communication device includes a frontend that is communicatively coupled to the antenna(s) and that converts downlink signals to downlink baseband signals and uplink baseband signals to uplink signals. A memory contains a passive proximity detection module and a baseline threshold value. A communication device includes a controller that is communicatively coupled to the frontend and a memory. A controller executes a module contained in memory to enable the communication device to receive via the antenna(s) a downlink reference signal from a radio access network. The frontend determines a downlink characteristic of the downlink reference signal. Based on comparison to the baseline threshold value, the controller determines whether a person is in proximity to the antenna(s) based on the downlink characteristic being indicative of a proximity to the person. The controller limit transmits power level of the frontend in response to determining the proximity to the person.