Safety of 5G questioned

An opponent of the transition to fifth-generation cellphone networks, known as 5G, has called on the Hibiscus & Bays Local Board to recommend that Auckland Council put pressure on Government to place a moratorium on the roll out, until research into its health effects is carried out.

In his presentation to the local board on November 21, North Shore psychologist Michael Vaughan said that the Ministry of Health and telecommunications companies are not funding new research, but relying on studies into 3G and 4G.

“5G is very different – higher energy and higher frequency,” Mr Vaughan says. “I am not against technology and enjoy using it, but it absolutely must be safe.”

He says overseas studies are inconclusive with some showing potential health effects for people and some not.

“Rolling it out on the basis that we think it will be all right, even though we haven’t studied those frequencies and their effect on the body is irresponsible,” he says.

A chief concern raised by Mr Vaughan was the likelihood of 5G requiring more transmitters to be placed near homes and businesses.

However, Vodafone, which switched on its commercial 5G network last week in parts of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown, says in New Zealand that is not the case – to begin with, at least.

Its spokesperson says Vodafone is using the existing 3.5MHz radio spectrum and installing new equipment onto existing cell sites to enable 5G.

“We will be upgrading around 1500 cell sites over the next few years,” the spokesperson says. “In future – at least a few years away – there will be a new element which uses millimetre wave spectrum.

We expect this will be for specific cases such as offices, hospitals and factories where you need super fast data transmission. Installing new cell sites is a costly, time consuming process, so we will plan future deployments very carefully.”

Mr Vaughan says it is still very concerning that telcos plan to use those higher frequencies, given the scarcity of research.

“People in those offices, factories and hospitals will become the subjects of an experiment with potentially serious consequences for their health,” he says. “I’m sure Vodafone and the other telcos will continue to proclaim that there is no evidence of harm from 5G, omitting to mention that there is also no evidence that it is safe.”

An online petition can be found on Greenpeace’s www.toko.org.nz website (search for Halt 5G).