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Welcome Address
Mitsuru Yamada
Advisor, ITU-T Study Groups 5 and 12 Regional Group
Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, ITU
Excellencies
Distinguished delegates
Ladies and gentlemen
On behalf of Malcolm Johnson, Director of ITU’s Telecommunication
Standardization Bureau (TSB), it is a great honour and pleasure to welcome
you to this very important workshop on electromagnetic field exposure.
I wish to pass on Mr Johnson’s sincere thanks on behalf of the ITU and
especially on behalf of the TSB to the Botswana Telecommunications Authority
for hosting this event and for the hospitality received in this wonderful
country.
The Director also asked me to take this opportunity to wish the meetings of
the two African regional study groups every success, and again thank the
Botswana administration for hosting these meetings. Holding them back to
back makes it easier to provide TSB support and allow participants to attend
both meetings and he thanks the two Chairmen for their collaboration and
wish them every success.
Many African countries have large populations, extended mercantile networks,
natural resources and other burgeoning industries such as tourism. ICT is
indispensable for facilitating the connectivity necessary to maximise these
resources and push forward development, health and education agendas.
ITU statistics show that development of ICTs in Africa is increasing,
especially as you all know in the field of mobile communications. It follows
therefore that radiofrequency (RF) radiation emitted by antennas mounted on
communication towers, mobile phone base stations, radio stations, etc and
erected in residential areas is also growing.
However, as the WHO (World Health Organization) has pointed out, there are
possible harmful effects from electromagnetic fields (EMF) that must be
taken into account in the rollout of these new technologies.
International standards such as those published by ITU are a way to mitigate
the potential risks in an environment where there is huge growth in
deployment of wireless technology and infrastructure.
This workshop will address this issue, highlight and create awareness of EMF
exposure limits. We will also provide an opportunity to see some
state-of-the-art EMF measuring equipment and discuss relevant standards
showing the process for EMF measurement.
This event has two goals: to reply to the big regional demand on very hot
topics such as Practical measurement of EMF exposure and to address requests
to ITU-T Study Groups to expand their studies to take into account and find
solutions to regional problems.
Our standards (ITU-T Recommendations) give safety guidance on
electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and exposure to EMF radiation, in line
with WTSA Resolution 72 and PP’10 Resolution 176.
This workshop is an opportunity for experts to share views and ideas that
can ensure that African development of ICTs takes into account these very
important issues. It may also highlight issues that are pertinent to the
development of new standardization work.
The event is a unique opportunity to enhance cooperation among regulators,
operators and civil society learn from and contribute to the work of ITU-T
Study Group 5.
I would like to thank the speakers, session chairs as well as all colleagues
- from the host country and from ITU - involved in the organization of this
event as well as the interpreters who will make it possible to understand
each other.
Finally, I wish you all a rewarding and enjoyable workshop.
Thank you very much. |
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