Muscat: The Regional Workshop on "Electromagnetic Compatibility: Achieving Balancing Connectivity, Safety, and Tower Locations Selection in the Arab Region" commenced yesterday, organized by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The workshop is being attended by a diverse audience of telecommunications regulators, ICT policymakers, health and safety experts, and judicial authorities concerned with electromagnetic fields from within and outside the Sultanate of Oman.
This 4-day workshop aims to raise awareness of the impact of electromagnetic fields on humans by international recommendations and standards, as well as to discuss the regulatory and legal requirements for the establishment of communication towers and present proposed solutions to the challenges they face.
In his opening speech, Omar Al Qatabi, Vice president telecom regulatory sector TRA, welcomed the participants on the workshop on in the Sultanate of Oman. He pointed out that the event highlights the importance of understanding the impact of technology on society and the need to apply controls to mitigate potential health risks. He added that preventive measures must be taken to ensure the safety of citizens and raise awareness on this topic. The aim of the workshop is to exchange experiences and formulate recommendations to strengthen cooperation and develop the telecommunications sector in the Arab region.
Workshop Topics
The workshop addresses the efforts of Arab countries and presents awareness initiatives for electromagnetic field measurement operations. It includes several sessions that discuss the importance of evaluating and measuring electromagnetic field levels and health effects, as well as international guidelines for their measurement.
Other sessions also address topics such as the impact of urban planning on the telecommunications sector and the regulation of communication towers and the legal aspects related to them, in addition to reviewing the ITU's efforts in standardizing electromagnetic fields and the ongoing efforts in this field.
This workshop coincides with the work of the regional team meeting for the Arab States region of Study Group 5 in the Telecommunications Standardization Sector, where training is provided to bridge the standardization gap.
Oman's Efforts in Electromagnetic Compatibility
Engineer Faisal bin Hamad Al Shekaili, Director of Technical Specifications at the TRA, said that this regional workshop is being attended by many Arab countries, and the aim is to reach a consensus on the standards used to measure electromagnetic emissions and determine safe levels. Many countries follow different specifications, and in Oman we adopt the international standard ICNIRP 1998. Today, we are seeking to define specific standards and a scientific methodology for measuring electromagnetic fields, determining safe levels, and adopting appropriate measuring devices to ensure accurate measurements.
We pay great attention to public awareness, so we annually measure 10% of communication towers in the Sultanate of Oman and determine electromagnetic emissions. We also publish awareness videos and measurement results, so that the public is aware that electromagnetic radiation levels are within safe limits.
This event highlights national efforts in Arab countries and showcases awareness initiatives to stimulate discussions on electromagnetic field standardization practices.
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