Despite no supporting evidence, there has been a vocal group claiming 5G causes adverse health effects. In a number of countries, a lively debate is taking place around the need to potentially limit emissions from mobile infrastructure carrying 5G signals. In response, regulators have been publishing measurements of radio emissions from telecommunications equipment as part of their on-going monitoring activity. Perhaps unsurprisingly, recent measurements (such as in the UK and in France), have revealed that 5G emissions are still far from the maximum limits set out in national and international guidelines. In Switzerland, where authorities have paid particular attention to the concerns raised around 5G, the Government is committing to monitor the emissions closely and to inform people more thoroughly, while ensuring 5G development goes ahead and unlocks the expected economic benefits. Some regulators are also having to combat widespread disinformation and unsubstantiated claims that there is a link between 5G and the current coronavirus pandemic, which has sometimes resulted in mobile infrastructure being vandalised.
In the UK, Ofcom finds emissions are a small fraction of the maximum limits set
Ofcom regularly measures electromagnetic field (EMF) emissions as part of its ongoing monitoring activity. With all four UK mobile networks having launched 5G services in the last year, the regulator has extended its measurement programme to cover the frequencies being used for 5G. At present, 5G in the UK is only operating in the 3.4–3.6GHz band, which was assigned to mobile operators in April 2018, while the award of frequencies in the 700MHz and 3.6–3.8GHz bands has been scheduled for the spring of 2020. Between February and April 2020, Ofcom published measurements of EMF emissions at 5G sites across 10 UK cities. It published two reports, the first of which covered 16 sites, and the second covered 22 sites. In both cases, measurements recorded levels of emissions that are well below the limits set out in the guidelines of the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The measurements published in both instances found that the maximum measured at any site was approximately 1.5% of those levels. Ofcom also found that 5G currently contributes a small amount to the EMF levels measured at each location. The largest contribution to the measured levels comes from previous generations of mobile technology (2G, 3G, 4G), whereas the highest level observed in the band used for 5G was just 0.039% of the relevant level.
While the results are reassuring, Ofcom is nonetheless proposing to include specific conditions in licences, so that licensees are expressly required to comply with the relevant levels indicated in the ICNIRP guidelines. This condition would apply to all equipment that can transmit at powers above 10 Watts (such as mobile networks equipment, TV and radio broadcasters, and most point-to-point microwave links). Spectrum licensees will have to keep records (including the results of any measurements, tests and calculations), that demonstrate how they have complied with the ICNIRP Guidelines. Ofcom is also proposing to adopt a similar approach for licence-exempt equipment that transmits at similar levels of power, such as certain types of satellite terminals.
In France, the ANFR monitors emissions under three scenarios
Meanwhile in France, back in April 2020, the French agency for radio frequencies (ANFR) published its measurements of the level of emissions across 43 5G sites, which use spectrum in the 3.5GHz band. The findings of the ANFR were not significantly different from those of Ofcom’s measurements, in that the values recorded were well below the limit of 61V/m set for the 3.5GHz band in the country. The ANFR carried out its measurements in accordance with its current protocol, before and after sites were turned on that represent various configurations of operators, manufacturers, and types of antennas. A first series of measurements was carried out without traffic, since on the date of their completion sites were not open to subscribers. These results showed that the average level of exposure was 0.06V/m, with a maximum level of 0.36V/m. Measurements were also made on some sites in new configurations, in particular with continuous data traffic in an artificially blocked beam in a given direction. The results show a significant variation in the level of exposure depending on the intensity of use: when transmitting 1GB of data in a given direction, measures varied between 0.8V/m and 1.6V/m; at ‘maximum emission’, they ranged between 0.65V/m and 9V/m which is still much lower than the regulated limit.
This data will allow the ANFR to propose new indicators which reflect the average exposure created in the presence of traffic by 5G relays with orientable beams. This indicator will allow in particular to model the effect of 5G relays on public exposure and to produce forecast maps. The hypotheses put forward to define this indicator will be compared with the measurements of exposure carried out in the field, when the 5G networks are in commercial operation. The indicator will then be refined by taking into account actual traffic configurations.
The Swiss Federal Council will monitor emissions and begin a public information campaign
In Switzerland, the Government has recently carried out extensive work to make sure 5G can be developed while addressing the health concerns that have emerged in the country. The Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) set up a working group on mobile telephony and radiations, which issued a report in November 2019. The report proposed five possible options with regard to existing rules on non-ionising radiations, which set two limits – one for the emissions, and one for the installation. Currently, these limits are in line with other European countries, and range between 36V/m and 61V/m.
On 22 April 2020, the Federal Council decided how it intends to proceed. The limits set out in the existing regulation remain unchanged, also due to the fact that the working group has not found an agreement on a common recommendation, and that the Parliament recently voted twice against reducing the maximum level of emissions. However, the Council decided to carry out more measurements on the new (adaptive) antennas,which carry the 5G signal, reducing the average exposure but increasing it for individuals who are close to an antenna. The Federal Council also decided to implement the accompanying measures proposed in the working group’s report. These include simplifying and improving the execution of measurements, monitoring exposure, informing the population, promoting research in the field of mobile telephony and health, and creating a platform for all stakeholders to exchange information on future evolutions of mobile telephony. With regard to improving information for the population, the report suggested there should be information campaigns for target groups of the population, on the topic of responsible management of mobile telephony. The same topic should also be brought into schools, alongside those of media literacy and data security. Along with this, emissions datasets should be made available online. For the time being, the Council has indicated that it will give priority to the development of radiation exposure monitoring, and to the establishment of an environmental medical advice center on non-ionising radiation.
The European Commission reassures citizens about the limits it set to EMF exposure
The EC recently sought to reassure citizens across the EU that the limits it has historically set for EMF exposure. The limits are ultimately left to individual member states to decide, but they are defined in a Council Recommendation dating back to 1999. On 27 April 2020, the EC issued a statement noting that the limits in the Recommendation are 50 times lower than the levels at which scientific evidence suggests there can be effects on health. The EC refers to the newly approved ICNIRP guidelines, which replace those passed in 1998 but do not substantially alter the maximum exposure limits,, and are in turn set in such a way that the maximum levels are about 50 times lower than what is considered as harmful.
While the Recommendation is not binding, the new Electronic Communications Code that will come into effect at the end of 2020 refers to it, and requires member states to take it into the utmost account when setting EMF levels.
Regulators fight the spread of false claims linking 5G and coronavirus
Regulators and industry have recently had to fight against the spread of disinformation related to 5G, with particular regard to unsubstantiated allegations that 5G would somehow facilitate the spread of coronavirus. During April 2020, these disinformation campaigns led to the vandalisation of dozens of mobile sites across the UK, Belgium, and Netherlands, including sites where 5G is not even deployed or active. The Belgian regulator, the BIPT, issued a warning on 20 April 2020, on the consequence of destroying mobile masts. In the UK, the consortium of mobile operators Mobile UK published a statement on 5 April 2020, calling for the protection of critical infrastructure. Ofcom followed shortly after, with an update on 7 April 2020 in which it had to emphasise that there is no relationship between 5G mobile signals and the coronavirus, followed by a second statement on 17 April 2020.
Ofcom has also actively monitored the spread of disinformation related to coronavirus in the country. Among other findings, Ofcom’s research shows how widespread the claim that 5G and coronavirus are linked to one another. On 28 April 2020, Ofcom’s fourth report confirmed that this is the most common false claim people come across, with 51% of respondents to Ofcom’s research admitting that they have heard it The regulator is also monitoring the spread of disinformation through TV broadcasting, and had to issue guidance to the broadcaster ITV following claims made in a TV programme on 13 April 2020, where a presenter suggested that claims linking 5G and coronavirus should not necessarily be dismissed as false.
