Page 115 - SAMENA Trends - March 2020

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

5G Confirmed Safe by Radiation Watchdog

5G is safe, according to the international
body in charge of setting limits on
exposure to radiation, which has updated
its advisory guidelines for the first time
in more than 20 years. The International
Commission on Non‐Ionizing Radiation
Protection (ICNIRP), the Germany-based
scientific body that assesses the health
risks of radio broadcasts, called for
new guidelines for millimeter-wave 5G,
the most high-frequency version of the
telecommunications standard. But in
practice, that form of 5G, which is in use in
the US and will be coming to Europe, still
has output levels significantly below the
new maximum. Dr. Eric van Rongen, the other broadcast connections above the be breached in the conventional operation
ICNIRP chair, said: “We know parts of the 6GHz band, “were not anticipated in 1998”, of a mobile phone network. Exposures
community are concerned about the safety according to Dr Jack Rowley, the senior from base stations hit about 1% of the
of 5G and we hope the updated guidelines director for research and sustainability maximum, Rowley said, while the testing
will help put people at ease. “The guidelines at GSMA, the industry body for mobile regime for mobile phone handsets ensured
have been developed after a thorough network operators. Higher frequencies that, when running at the maximum
review of all relevant scientific literature, interact with organic tissue differently, possible power, they hit about 50% of the
scientific workshops and an extensive dissipating more energy at the surface and upper limit. “In our day-to-day usage,
public consultation process. They provide penetrating less, which means the new however, it’s very similar to the base
protection against all scientifically standards take measurements across a stations – about 1% of the maximum.”
substantiated adverse health effects due smaller cross section, and specifically pay Despite the overwhelming evidence that
to [electromagnetic field] exposure in the attention to the power absorbed by, rather 5G, like earlier mobile standards, is safe for
100 kHz to 300 GHz range.” The radio than simply exposed to, a body. “The most the public, a large community of skeptics
frequencies 5G uses in the UK are similar important thing is that the fundamental fear it will cause – or already is causing
to those that have been used for mobile health risk assessment is unchanged,” – health problems, including, supposedly,
telephones since 1998, when ICNIRP Rowley said. “The limits that we had in causing coronavirus. There is no evidence
published its first set of guidelines for EMF 1998 are still protective now.” In practice, to support a link between the two.
exposure. But millimeter-wave 5G, and both the old and new limits are unlikely to

Caricel Executives Charged with Breaching Telecommunications Act

A number of executives at ill-fated They have been charged with one count the Supreme Court cleared the way for
Jamaican 4G start-up Symbiote of conspiracy to use spectrum without a the government to revoke its telecoms
Investment (Caricel) have reportedly license and five counts of use of spectrum licenses. The start-up paid JMD2.65 billion
been charged with breaches of the without a license. The accused are said to (USD19.4 million) for a mobile license
Telecommunications Act by the Office have acted in contravention of Section 63A in May 2016, but attempted to sell its
of the Director of Public Prosecutions. (1) (b) of the Telecommunications Act. As business to South Africa-based Involution
According to the Jamaica Gleaner, the previously reported by TeleGeography’s Limited in October 2017 – setting the
personnel in question are Symbiote CEO CommsUpdate, Caricel placed all of company on a collision course with the
Lowell Lawrence, his wife, Company its licensed facilities and operations Jamaican authorities.
Secretary, Minette Lawrence, Director under the immediate control of Xtrinet
Natalie Neil and Livingston Hinds of Xtrinet. on 10 December 2018 – just days after

115 MARCH 2020