Expats Warn Against Unchecked Large-scale 5G Network Rollout over Potential Health, Safety, Data Protection and Privacy Concerns

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The electromagnetic spectrum is wide with varied frequencies utilized in diverse spheres of life, including communication. Human communication has been enhanced with advancement in telecommunication technology. In the early centuries, communication within and between communities was through sound instruments like drums of various types and sound pitch, flutes made from different plant reeds and human song sounds. Such communication methods world over lasted centuries before the invention of the telephone. In Africa, talented individuals in respective villages or communities served as communication masters of Kingdoms or Chiefdoms. They were respected members of the society responsible for the production and/or use of these instruments in communicating specific messages and information throughout their jurisdiction.

Today, human communication has been enhanced by the advancement in communication technology mainly due to exploits of the electromagnetic spectrum, which consists of a wide range of frequencies that can be utilized for various functions. The electromagnetic spectrum is reminiscent of frequencies currently utilized in the medical field. For example, X-ray diffraction (XRD) is applied in bone tissue analysis; magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) creates pictures of the body anatomy to diagnose various physiological processes and conditions such as torn ligaments and tumors; gamma (γ-rays) are used in radiotherapy, while heat therapies are applied in physiotherapy and pain relief, etc. The detrimental effects of these electromagnetic fields as applied in medicine have been widely researched and appropriate public health safety measures taken during use. The MRI, for instance has prescribed restrictions for pediatric imaging and seriously ill and weak patients!

Radio and television transmitters, as well as receiver sets too emit electromagnetic radiation that might be hazardous to actively growing cells or organs such as the eye that actively produce functional substances (tears). Traditionally, while watching television (TV) people especially children are warned not to stay too close to the TV screen. Holding mobile phones close to the ear or keeping them in pockets close to the breast or gonads (especially the testis) is discouraged because phones emit electromagnetic radiation that may cause harmful effects to the organs (the brain and gonads), and may trigger cancer in later years of life. In fact, prolonged exposure to electromagnetic radiation has potential to alter the sequence of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), the genetic code that controls cell activities leading to their functional abnormalities. This may compromise the ability of the body to replace damaged cells in organs.

Advent of Mobile Telephony

The mobile phone technology (similar to MRI technology) has significantly improved the speed of information transmission. The technology has migrated from the first generation (“1G”), to 2G, 3G, 4G and currently to 5G, which was hitherto mainly used in military and security installations. The frequency spectrum is broadly categorized into two ranges, that is, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation frequencies, depending on the speed or ‘strength’ of the frequency. While each sovereign state in the world has its own ‘frequency plan’ determining what to use for which frequency, there are also global and regional regulations, guidelines and standards issued by inter-governmental bodies.

With all factors remaining constant, it has been observed that the non-ionizing radiations are generally far less harmful than the ionizing ones. Mobile phones operate on the lower frequency radio waves (RF) or microwaves that are non-ionizing, while X-rays that operate on much higher frequencies are examples of ionizing radiations. One would assume in theory, that any mobile phone technology (2G, 3G, 4G, and now 5G) should be safe. However, from explanations already advanced above, this is far from the truth as each frequency range has some form of relative harm. The previous limitation to the use of 5G in communication, for instance, was partly to safeguard the health aspect of the human race, animals and plants (environmental detrimental effects). These effects are not just limited to 5G; even transmitters of the earlier frequencies can affect ecosystems, since animals too may experience reduced oxygen saturation as a result of the electromagnetic chemical reaction in the blood cells. Though mobile phones have greatly enhanced communication and without doubting the accruing huge socio-economic benefits, African countries, Kenya included should take precautionary measures and carry out customized, independent, transparent and credible environmental and health studies before large-scale roll out of 5G networks.

5G Technology
Telecommunication technologies enabled by 5G mobile phone infrastructure have great potential for catalysing social-economic revolution due to the high speed of operation, with a capacity of accommodating up to one million devices per square kilometre compared to only 4,000 that is currently possible with 4G. The cell phone and other mobile devices, once thought as a luxury have grown to be a necessity of life, increasingly becoming indispensable for both daily business transactions and personal use. While proliferation of mobile devices is no doubt beneficial, having a high concentration of gadgets constantly receiving and emitting signals around one may become hazardous at some point.1 Safety concerns arise from the vast number of telecommunication towers and antenna installations required, with the technology’s true power coming at Giga-scale frequency, in addition to increased exposure times, coupled with simultaneous connection of extremely high number of devices to 5G networks.

Failure to set high safety and privacy standards before large scale rollout of 5G poses a potential risk to lives, being an affront to the otherwise public good. Since it is widely accepted that there is a direct link between prolonged exposure to electromagnetic radiation, with high risk of memory dysfunction, infertility in humans, hyperactivity and decline of mental ability, there is need for more rigorous research in this area. Indeed, there is even a graver risk to the health and life of vulnerable members of society especially expectant mothers, children and other immuno-compromised persons. The same caution appertains to the Google Loon (Balloon) technology that Kenya approved a few weeks ago, which so far no other country world-over seems to embrace. It is not clear yet how data protection and privacy are guaranteed with these technologies. Due to the complexity of these issues, it is strongly recommended that the Government should initiate credible, multidisciplinary and independent scientific research that will inform public policy, development of applicable legal framework and regulations that relate to 5G and similar future technologies. This must involve combined teams of scientists, medical practitioners, radiation-protection experts, spectrum and telecommunications engineers, environmentalists, regulators, and other such relevant actors. Until then, the current available technologies need to be utilized exhaustively in order to maximize their potential before investing in not so-sufficiently researched, and currently controversial technology.

There are studies that indicate some effects can surface even after 30 years or so. Dr. Devra Davis, “The truth about mobile phone and wireless radiation” 2015 Presentation at the University of Melbourne, Australia [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwyDCHf5iCY]

Authors:
Dr. INF Abiud Mulongo, BSc, MSc, PhD, MIAENG, Chairman, Infomaticians Society of Kenya (ISK) (abiudwere@gmail.com);

Dr. INF Shem J. Ochuodho, BSc, MSc(Eng), PhD, LLD (Hon), Introduced Internet in Kenya in 1994 (shemochuodho@yahoo.com).

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001375423/go-slow-on-large-scale-rollout-of-5g-network