No link between 5G and coronavirus - NCA clarifies

The National Communications Authority has clarified the recent speculation that the evolution of the fifth generation (5G) technology is the reason behind the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the NCA, there is absolutely no link between 5G technology and COVID-19. Urging the public to disregard the misleading videos and audios circulating on social media.

It explained that the 5G is the next generation of mobile technology which has not yet been deployed in Ghana.

However, it promises significantly higher internet data speeds 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”, it emphasised.

The NCA, as part of its consumer protection mandate, it said 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 it stressed out will also utilize some frequencies below 6GHz as well as higher frequencies and within safe limits.

The measurements taken by the NCA clearly indicate that the non-ionizing radiations from mobile base stations are even more stringent and safer than those set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), which is the international body responsible for safe use of non-ionizing radiation.

Additionally, in 2019, the NCA contracted independent private agencies to audit all base station masts/towers in Ghana for structural integrity and to assess the level of radiations from all the sites. The audit reports confirmed that radiation levels are significantly lower than the ICNIRP reference levels.

The NCA assured the general public that all mobile technologies are safe, and as part of its regulatory mandate, the NCA in collaboration with the relevant state institutions 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 assured the public that there is absolutely no relationship between any mobile technology and COVID-19.