The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine organized a national expert workshop on building public trust in mobile networks and addressing concerns related to electromagnetic fields (EMF) and radiophobia.
As Ukraine continues to restore and modernize its digital infrastructure, further support is needed to strengthen public communication on EMF, provide accessible scientific information, and equip national and local stakeholders with practical tools for engaging communities. This will help create an enabling environment for the timely and sustainable deployment of mobile networks and improved access to reliable connectivity.
The workshop brought together Ukrainian institutions, international organizations, national regulatory authorities, ITU experts, scientific experts, mobile network operators and other partners. It combined international scientific guidance with practical experiences from the Republic of Moldova, Poland, Romania and the United Kingdom.
The workshop aimed to:
- present scientific evidence and international guidance on EMF exposure and health;
- examine Ukraine's priorities and support needs related to EMF monitoring, public communication and community engagement;
- share European experience in EMF transparency, preventive communication and engagement with communities; and
- identify practical communication tools and approaches that could be adapted to the Ukrainian context.
The event contributed to the implementation of ITU Council Resolution 1408 (Mod. 2023) on assistance and support to Ukraine and the initiative “Reducing radiophobia and public resistance to mobile network infrastructure," jointly identified by ITU and the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine.
The workshop included contributions from ITU experts, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection, national regulatory authorities and Ukrainian institutions.
Participation was by invitation.
For further information, please contact the ITU Office for Europe at eurregion@itu.int.