The National Communications Authority (NCA) has clarified that there is no link between 5G technology and Covid-19.
The Authority has therefore asked the public to disregard the various misleading videos and audios making rounds on social media seeking to establish a link between the two.
The NCA has explained in a press release that the various stages of evolution of Mobile Cellular Technologies, starting from the First Generation (1G) wireless mobile technology.
“It was soon followed by Second Generation (2G) digital mobile technology which, in addition to voice calls, enabled Text Messaging (SMS) and a very limited amount of data to be sent over the Internet although it was rather slow,” it stated.
5G
It explained that the Fifth Generation (5G) is the next generation of mobile technology, which has not yet been deployed in Ghana.
“However, it promises significantly higher internet data speed which will enable innovative products and services in agriculture, transportation, education, health, security and commerce.
All generations of mobile cellular technology (1G, 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G) operate on radio frequencies (RF). These frequencies are not visible, but they exist in the atmosphere; they are what enable radio and television stations to transmit news and information to us. They generate non-ionizing radiation which pose no harm to human beings,” the NCA explained.
No health implications
According to the NCA, with over 50 years of scientific research, there is no evidence to prove that exposure to RF radiations are harmful to human health.
“RF radiations from FM radio and TV broadcasting signals have not caused any health hazards despite the many years of human exposure to them. Comparing the characteristics of the RF radiations from 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G base stations and handsets to that of FM radio and TV, the NCA does not expect any harm to human health,” it said.
The NCA again assured that the Radiation Protection Institute (RPI) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) works with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), NCA, and the telecommunications industry to ensure that electromagnetic emissions from telecommunications infrastructure are within safe limits.
Safety of consumers
The NCA stated that, as part of its consumer protection mandate, it has established a Type Approval laboratory with test and measurement equipment for Radio Frequencies (RF), Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) and Specific Absorption Rate (SAR).
“The laboratory undertakes measurements to ascertain the safety of mobile devices (phones, tablets, etc) and field measurements of radiations from mobile base stations at frequencies below 6GHz which is the range of frequencies for 2G, 3G and 4G in Ghana. Future 5G deployments in Ghana will also utilize some frequencies below 6GHz as well as higher frequencies and within safe limits,” the release said.
To this end, the NCA says all mobile technologies are safe, assuring that it will continue to measure and check compliance to the safety levels of RF exposure to ensure protection of all users of communication services, including 5G (when it becomes available in Ghana) and future advanced technologies.
“The Authority further assures the public that there is absolutely no relationship between any mobile technology and COVID-19,” it concluded.
