Coronavirus and 5G: Everything you need to know
5G towers have been making headlines as COVID-19 spreads with many linking the rollout of the technology with the global pandemic. There have been protests, plenty of online rants and even towers being razed to the ground. But is there really a link. We spoke to the experts to find out.
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Coronavirus conspiracy theories appear to have reignited long-held fears around 5G towers.
With NSW in the midst of a major rollout of the mobile network some are linking 5G to the pandemic sweeping the globe.
In Mullumbimby on the state’s far north coast earlier this month it was reported protesters halted the installation of a 5G Telstra tower upgrade over COVID-19 and other health fears.
In doing so they completely ignored social distancing requirements.
At least one person was arrested while others chanted “No 5G”.
In many cases councils and officials are not helping the situation.
In March, Byron Shire Council wrote to Telstra about its opposition to the construction of towers.
Earlier this month, as conspiracy theories linking 5G to COVID-19 went viral online, Cumberland City Mayor Steve Christou wrote to the Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and Arts, Paul Fletcher about the very “real” 5G phobia.
“Local residents are very concerned and fearful regarding the possible health implications the 5G towers will have on their lives,” he wrote in the letter.
“There is real concern that continued exposure to 5G network towers will lead to increased cancer risk, cellular stress, increase in harmful free radicals, genetic damages, structural and functional changes of the reproductive system, learning and memory deficits, neurological disorders, and negative impacts on general wellbeing.”
The Facebook group Stop 5G Australia, which has recently rebranded as Australians for Safe Technology, has nearly 50,000 members and regularly posts about claimed negative impacts of 5G on health.
The Facebook page We Say NO to 5G in Australia posted on Monday that “Babies and children are most at risk from 5G and other EMF radiation” to its almost 19,000 followers.
“Protect your small people from small cells – say no to 5G,” the post continued.
But experts including Australia’s Chief Medical Officer Professor Brendan Murphy – who has been leading Australia’s health response to coronavirus – have denied any evidence that 5G towers negatively impacts on health.
So what is the truth?
Here is everything you need to known about 5G, your health and coronavirus.
What is 5G
5G is the fifth generation of wireless or mobile networks, which allows better network capacity and download rates than is possible on 4G or 3G.
Australia’s biggest network providers such as Telstra and Optus are getting busier each year. 5G can relieve congestion on these networks, which means faster mobile internet speeds and better performance.
It will also provide better connectivity between our machines, objects and devices.
How is 5G different to 4G?
Basically, it is faster and more powerful.
5G sends billions of bits of data per second rather than hundreds of millions with 4G.
It can transfer a large volume of data more quickly and it also uses wider bandwidth technologies, which can connect more devices to the network at the same time.
Dr Faycal Bouhafs, Senior Lecturer at the UNSW School of Engineering and Information Technology, explained 5G differs from 4G in terms of “technical upgrades and the software”.
“5G is just an upgrade of the antennas,” Dr Bouhafs said.
“You upgrade it at different frequencies … In terms of power it can be a bit different. It requires more power.”
However, he said higher frequencies used in 5G are still well below the dangerous range for electromagnetic radiation.
Why do we need to keep upgrading our networks?
Simply, to expand what we can use technologies for.
As our technologies get more complex, such as in autonomous cars and virtual reality devices, the networks we use must be able to transfer data more instantaneously and enable quicker response times between devices.
5G will also provides better coverage.
“5G provides better quality in terms of coverage and capacity,” Dr Bouhafs said.
“There are certain parts of town where operators can’t provide coverage i.e. blind spots so they deploy smaller (5G) antennas.”
These are often called small cells.
He explained 5G was vital for everything from playing video games and video streaming to using Google Maps and keeping connected on social media.
Where have these theories come from?
There have long been theories circulating about the impact of 5G towers on personal health.
However, it appears the suggested link between 5G and COVID-19 emerged from Facebook posts in January – around the same time the first cases were appearing in the US.
They have since spread around the globe with a number of high profile people fanning the flames.
Among those to have spread conspiracy theories are actor John Cusack, American musicians Wiz Khalifa, Keri Hilson and Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden.
Will 5G towers give me coronavirus?
In short, no.
The conspiracy theories can be broadly split into two camps.
In one camp are claims 5G can somehow suppress the immune system and therefore make people more susceptible to catching the virus.
In the other camp is an argument the virus can somehow be transmitted through the use of 5G technology.
Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the UK’s University of Reading, told the BBC both notions are “complete rubbish”.
“The idea that 5G lowers your immune system doesn’t stand up to scrutiny,” he told the national broadcaster.
“Radio waves can disrupt your physiology as they heat you up, meaning your immune system can’t function. But [the energy levels from] 5G radio waves are tiny and they are nowhere near strong enough to affect the immune system. There have been lots of studies on this.”
UNSW’s Dr Bouhafs, agreed.
“There is no proof that there is a link between radio and health to the general population.
“(And) there is no link whatsoever to COVID-19. 5G is as safe as previous technology (such as 4G).”
Experts have also dismissed any suggestion that the virus can be passed on by 5G technology.
Adam Finn, professor of paediatrics at the UK’s University of Bristol, told the BBC this was “impossible”.
“The present epidemic is caused by a virus that is passed from one infected person to another. We know this is true.
“We even have the virus growing in our lab, obtained from a person with the illness. Viruses and electromagnetic waves that make mobile phones and internet connections work are different things. As different as chalk and cheese.”
Dr Bouhafs adds there is no evidence 5G has any impact on our overall health.
“5G uses (radio) frequencies that have been used in the past,” Dr Bouhafs explained citing TVs using satellite or cable.
“Those frequencies have always been used,” Dr Bouhafs said.
Are there 5G towers being installed near me?
You can find the locations of local 5G towers at: rfnsa.com.au.