5G connectivity has locals divided
By Makayla Muscat
5G connectivity was switched on in Blackheath last month as part of the national rollout, but Blue Mountains residents are divided between the promise of a more reliable mobile coverage and concerns about the potential health risks of the new technology.
5G is the 5th generation of mobile networks following 3rd and 4th generation (3G and 4G) technologies on which Australian mobile networks currently operate. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications says 5G is “improving the technology of the previous generations to provide more reliable and effective services with greater speeds.”
Many residents look forward to the promise of an improved coverage. “I welcome the rollout of the 5G network in the Blue Mountains and its promise of a more reliable mobile coverage. Hopefully, the technology will improve connectivity for some of the more isolated communities along the Bells Line of Road and the Megalong Valley. Good, reliable mobile coverage can be a life saver during bushfires and emergencies of all kinds,” says Blue Mountains Labor Councillor Don McGregor.
Blue Mountains City Council says they have been contacted by members of the community expressing their concern about its potential impact on the health of the community and animals.
5G tower installed in Blackheath. Picture: Makayla Muscat
Blackheath resident Tom Ryan is among those troubled by the rollout, not just in the Blue Mountains, but everywhere. “I think the evidence that there are biological effects are strong and children especially, should be protected from exposure to RF emitting devices,” he says. Ryan is especially concerned that Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), the federal government body charged with regulating the 5G network, refused the council’s request to speak with residents about concerns regarding the rollout of the new technology. “I think that we should not be concerned with 5th Generation communication technologies alone, but how it fits into the broader changes to our world and society,” he says. “I don’t think that there has been an honest and thoughtful discussion, either in the mainstream media or in parliament.”
According to the Blue Mountains Gazette, comparison site WhistleOut surveyed 1000 people to gauge public attitudes as companies continue rollouts around the country. One in four believe the technology poses a health risk, 27% are worried it could be used to spy, and 56% said they would not buy a house too close to a 5G tower. 10% of respondents think 5G makes people more susceptible to COVID-19.
Councillor McGregor says that while many councillors do not share the concerns about the possible risks, council has called on the Government to publicly speak with residents about the rollout. “We do understand that the frenetic pace of technological change can greatly distress some people. We considered it our responsibility to seek and consider expert advice on the issue,” he says.
Labor Councillor Romola Hollywood told the gallery in 2019 that their campaign would be better directed towards the federal government. “I don’t think this product should be rolled out until we know the impacts,” she says.
The Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill said that council have written to MP for Macquarie Susan Templeman “to seek assurance that community concerns with respect to 5G network technologies will be assessed and taken into consideration.”
Despite council’s attempt to allay residents’ concerns, some still question the rollout of the new technology. “The obfuscation by both industry and the regulator of that industry should be of concern to anyone interested in democracy and our community's ability to make informed decisions,” Ryan says.