AMTA – ARPANSA Liaison Forum
Summary of the Meeting
Held on 16 August 2016

The Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) met at ARPANSA’s Melbourne office on Tuesday 16 August 2016.

The objectives of the AMTA-ARPANSA Liaison Forum  are to provide an open, frank and transparent exchange of information and views on radiation safety and radiation protection issues especially in the area of Electromagnetic Energy (EME), with due regard to the different roles the organisations play.

ARPANSA update
ARPANSA continued to advice the Government, and provide information to the public, on issues related to radiation protection and health impacts. ARPANSA expressed the importance of a risk-informed evidence-based approach being applied to setting standards and providing advice. 

Industry update
The 5th generation mobile networks (5G) is the next major phase of mobile telecommunications standards and will provide advancement in terms of speed, coverage and capacity. The implementation of 5G will involve greater macro deployment including denser networks and more infrastructures. Industry is closely observing the Department of Communication’s Spectrum review noting that the operation of 5G will require more spectrum.

EME issues
With the deployment of 5G it is expected that environmental EME levels will change. Making information available to the public on 5G will play an important role in community understanding. It was agreed that there is an opportunity to improve the format and readability of the environmental EME reports as the 5G transition occurs. 

NHMRC EME research funding
Australia has two NHMRC funded EME research centres. There has been no successful NHMRC project grant awarded in recent years. Industry expressed concern that the centres now face the risk of losing capability and capacity if funding is not resolved. In a new initiative, ARPANSA is working with the NHMRC assisting in the assessment of grant applications.

Revision of ICNIRP Guidelines
The revised ICNIRP Guidelines were presented at a workshop in Cape Town in May 2015 and ICNIRP has made further changes to the limits since then. Industry welcomed the open and transparent consultative process that has been adopted by ICNIRP and identified opportunities for improvement and the need for clarification of the revised ICNIRP limits. It is expected that a draft of the revised ICNIRP limits will be released for public comment late in 2016 or in 2017.

Review of RPS3
ARPANSA will review RPS3 following the revision of the ICNIRP Guidelines and the WHO EHC publication. ARPANSA will begin investigating the process of the review to shorten the process.

ARPANSA Wi-Fi in schools measurement study
ARPANSA is currently conducting a Wi-Fi in schools measurements study. The measurements are scheduled to be completed by the end of August 2016. Information on the study results will be provided to stakeholders.