Al Ghanim: Service providers in the country are committed to applying best safety standards

The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) issued a new regulating policy to determine the level of non-ionizing radiation yielded by telecommunications networks in conformity with safety standards set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. This policy comes in alignment with the TRA’s effort to monitor the extent of exposure to electromagnetic fields emanating from service providers networks and to fully control the use of technologies that give off such radiation.

The new regulating policy will take effect on all telecommunication services offered by service providers via wireless technologies, such as mobile services that are provided in cellular zones. The policy binds those licensed to install and run radio communication according to globally-recognized safety standards.

“The TRA came up with this policy to ensure the commitment of national service providers to international safety standards and guidelines,” commented H.E. Mohamed Nasser Al Ghanim, TRA Director General. “It was also conceived to make sure that the emissions from mobile telecommunications stations and antennas are within the limits of exposure generally defined and accepted by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection.”

“Field studies regularly carried out by the TRA affirm the commitment of national service providers with safety standards set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection and aligned with international best practices,” he added.

The World Health Orginsation (WHO) report may have stated that there is no convincing scientific evidence that emissions from transmission stations and wireless networks leave adverse effects on health, given to the low exposure rates, yet the TRA is set on applying strict regulations and policies to make absolutely sure that radiation exposure does not exceed the rates adopted internationally.

By introducing this policy, the TRA has in mind applying the best proactive measures that are followed worldwide, by binding licensees to present the required official reports that prove that the telecommunications networks is respecting the guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection

The TRA pinpointed the standards and procedures to be followed by service providers to attain the maximum level of protection. The standards encompass avoiding installing communications networks that run on wireless transmissions next to building, public spaces, schools, hospitals and university campuses. If such networks are installed in the aforementioned spaces, the wireless radiation frequency should be kept at a minimum.