MME, CRA sign MoU to monitor mobile towers’ radiation levels

The Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) and the Communication Regulatory Authority (CRA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to co-operate in monitoring the non-ionising radiation levels of communication stations and towers for Qatar’s mobile communication service providers.

The MoU aims to enhance joint government work and support environmental development in the country, which is one of the four key pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV 2030).

The MoU was signed by HE the Minister of Municipality and Environment Mohamed bin Abdullah al-Rumaihi and CRA president Mohammed Ali al-Mannai.

The MoU paves the way for joint cooperation in various areas, including approvals for communication stations and towers of mobile service providers, and handling the complaints related to radiation levels.

“CRA welcomes the signing of the MoU with the MME, it will enhance the ongoing co-operation between CRA, MME and all relevant entities to contribute to achieving the goals of QNV 2030, which aims to achieve sustainable development at the economic, social, and environmental levels and achieve coordination and harmony between all the government entities in the interests of future generations,” said Abdulla Jassmi, technical affairs department manager at CRA.

“We are pleased to co-operate with CRA toward achieving the common goal of ensuring that non-ionizing radiation levels of mobile stations and towers in Qatar are in line with global standards and guidelines. MME will work with CRA to develop the appropriate working mechanisms to implement the MoU signed between the two sides in the interest of the country,” said Aisha al-Baker, director, Radiation & Chemical Protection Department, MME.

“The CRA is keen to develop the ICT sector with the aim development that has social beneficial impact. CRA also encourages the introduction of advanced and innovative communications technologies and we always take into consideration the international standards especially when it comes to radiation levels of radio-communication stations run by service providers in the country. CRA will work together with MME to achieve this goal at the national level,” said Mohamed Sadeq, Spectrum Management Department manager, CRA.

Al-Baker also explained that MME’s Radiation & Chemical Protection Department is responsible for preparing bylaws, regulations, and requirements of practising business in the field of ionizing or non-ionizing radiation, in accordance with the provisions of Radiation Protection Law No 31 of 2002, and executive regulations issued under it. Moreover, it is also in accordance with the Ministerial Decree Number (116) of 2013 regarding the national guidelines for protection against electromagnetic radiation emitted by radio-frequency devices which adopts the international standards recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

The MoU will help in the co-operation and co-ordination between MME and CRA about the necessary approvals needed to build and run communication stations and towers. This aims to ensure choosing the suitable sites and minimise the number of temporary and portable towers on wheels and replacing it with permanent ones with safe building specifications in accordance with the applicable instructions.

The MoU also contains agreement on joint co-operation in measuring and monitoring radiation levels at communication stations and towers to ensure that all mobile communication stations and towers are compatible with international standards. MME and CRA will exchange the measurements results carried out by each side to develop and document a common database for Qatar, which will contain the values of the radiation levels of the various mobile communication stations and towers.

وقعت وزارة البلدية والبيئة وهيئة تنظيم الاتصالات، مذكرة تفاهم للتعاون المشترك في مجال مراقبة مستويات الإشعاع غير المؤين لمحطات وأبراج الاتصالات التابعة لمقدمي خدمات الاتصالات المتنقلة في الدولة.

وتمهد مذكرة التفاهم الطريق للتعاون المشترك في مجالات مختلفة، منها الموافقات الخاصة بمحطات وأبراج الاتصالات التابعة لمقدمي خدمات الاتصالات المتنقلة، ومجال التعامل مع الشكاوى المتعلقة بمستويات الإشعاع.

تهدف المذكرة إلى التعاون في قياس ومراقبة مستويات الإشعاع الصادرة عن محطات وأبراج الاتصالات بشكل مشترك، للتأكد من مطابقة جميع محطات وأبراج الاتصالات للخدمة المتنقلة للمعايير الدولية المعتمدة. وستقوم الوزارة والهيئة بتبادل نتائج القياسات التي تقوم بها كل جهة على حدة، وذلك بهدف تطوير وتوثيق قاعدة بيانات مشتركة لدولة قطر تحتوي على القيم الخاصة بمستويات الإشعاع لمختلف محطات وأبراج الاتصالات للخدمة المتنقلة.;