Government guide seeks to counteract ‘ quack’ 5G theories

MINISTERS HAVE published a guide on 5G in a bid to dispel “quack” theories that the new technology could harm people’s health.

Conspiracy theories have emerged claiming that the 5G network, which will provide superfast internet speeds while once fully rolled out, was behind the coronavirus outbreak and that 5G could emit dangerous levels of radiation.

The misinformation campaign has resulted in some communication masts being vandalised – an act the Government warned could cost lives as damaging them could prevent calls to the emergency services from being made.

Digital Infrastructure Minister Matt Warman and Local Government Minister Simon Clarke, inset, have written to councils to promote a new guide which can be handed out to worried constituents in an effort to dispel the misleading theories taking hold on social media.

The information pamphlet, 5G Mobile Technology: A Guide, explains how 5G works and states that watchdog Ofcom found the wave emission readings taken from the masts are “a small fraction” of the amount permitted by the International Commission for

Non- Ionising Radiation Protection ( ICNIRP).

The guide, published on Thursday, says: “Companies have been rolling out 5G in the UK since 2019.

“However, some people have raised concerns that the introduction of 5G could affect people’s health and have even linked it to the coronavirus pandemic.

“These claims are completely unfounded and should not be used as a basis to block or delay 5G rollout.”

Mr Warman and Mr Clarke, in their letter to local authorities, also called for more to be done to help find sites for masts and the installation of fullfibre broadband. Telecoms companies need to secure rights to install their infrastructure on public sector land and buildings, but there are concerns some deals are not progressing quickly enough. The Conservative manifesto vowed to “bring full fibre and gigabit- capable broadband to every home and business across the UK by 2025”.

The Government is encouraging councils, which are obliged to get “best value” when agreeing land access agreements, to take into account “non- monetary benefits” such as enhanced connectivity.