Telecommunications networks use modulation techniques to transmit information wirelessly between mobile devices and cell towers. These modulation strategies have evolved over time to meet the increasing demand for faster and more reliable communication across different generations of cellular networks.

The first generation (1G) of wireless technology was introduced in the 1980s, and used analog frequency modulation for voice calls.

2G networks became commercially available in 1992 and used three common multiple access technologies for accommodating multiple simultaneous users:

•Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA)

•Division Multiple Access (TDMA)

•Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)

Third and fourth generations of network technologies were introduced in 1998 (3G), 2006 (4G), and in 2011, 4G-Long Term Evolution (LTE).

All 3G systems utilize CDMA/WCDMA technology.

Reference: NTP Technical Report on the Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies in Sprague Dawley (Hsd:Sprague Dawley^® SD^®) Rats Exposed to Whole-body Radio Frequency Radiation at a Frequency (900 Mhz) and Modulations (GSM and CDMA) Used by Cell Phones: Technical Report 595 [Internet]. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK561723/

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) is a widely used modulation scheme in 4G communication systems such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE Advanced, and it has also become the standard modulation format for 5G New Radio. Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) is a modern digital modulation technique used in 4G, 5G and Wi-Fi6 networks. 

Many new modulation and multiple access (MA) schemes are being developed for 5G to meet the changing demands of large-scale, heterogeneous traffic and users.

Energy efficiency improvements are imperative for 5G networks, and optimum modulation techniques can be employed to reach the capacity increase in 5G. Satellite communications also employ complex modulation schemes to improve spectral efficiency and minimize nonlinear amplification in the RF power amplifier. *References at the bottom of the post.

Pulse modulation involves transmitting a series of pulses to convey information. Some studies have suggested that this pulsing effect by radiofrequency radiation could have negative health effects on health by interfering with biological processes. 

Does ICNIRP (The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) consider modulation in its research and guidelines on non-ionizing radiation?

According to ICNIRP:

•Its guidelines account for all RF-EMF transmission protocols and modulation schemes, and so in terms of biological or health effects, these factors are not new.  https://www.icnirp.org/cms/upload/publications/ICNIRPNoteMay2021.pdf

•ICNIRP considers the potential for different types of radiofrequency EMF exposure to adversely affect health, including sinusoidal (e.g., continuous wave) and non-sinusoidal (e.g., pulsed) EMFs, and both acute and chronic exposures.

•ICNIRP considers all potential adverse health effects (including non-thermal effects) and sets restrictions to ensure that none occur, regardless of the mechanism of interaction between the exposure and the body. The lowest exposure levels that can cause adverse health effects are due to thermal mechanisms, and so restrictions have been set based on the thermal effects, as these will protect against any other effects that could occur at higher exposure levels.

https://www.gsma.com/publicpolicy/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/GSMA_International_EMF_Exposure_Guideline_Oct21.pdf

Quote: “The observation of effects does not necessarily mean the finding of a hazard” Allan H. Frey

(Allan H. Frey was the first American to publish on the microwave auditory effect (MAE). Frey’s “Human auditory system response to modulated electromagnetic energy” appeared in the Journal of Applied Physiology in 1961).

IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Technique Feb. 1971:

It was found that carrier frequency, and the relationship of the modulation to the function in its phases are critical in the effect of low power density rf energy on some functions of higher organisms (Frey, 1962, 1963, 19671 Frey and Siefert, 1968). 

For example, perception in the auditory system can be induced with carrier frequencies that penetrate the head but not those that do not penetrate the head, e.g. at 1 GHs but not at 10 GH. 

The auditory system perception cannot be produced unless the carrier is modulated.

The brainstem responses have not been observed with an unmodulated carrier. 

The isolated frog heart cannot be driven to arrhythmia if the rf pulse Impinges upon the heart at the P wave but it can be so driven if the rf pulse Impinges at the occurrence of the R wave.

It was found that there are critical body areas (Frey, 1967).

Peak rather than average power density was determined to be the more Important variable in the study of the effect of modulated low power density rf energy on biological functions (Frey, 1962, 1967).

Reference:  In Press. IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Technique Feb. 1971. (Special issue on Biological Effects of Microwaves) https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD0716044.pdf

2004: Biological Effects of Radiofrequency Fields: Does Modulation Matter?

Modulation has been a factor in public controversy related to health concerns. Following recommendations of the International EMF Project of the World Health Organization (WHO), a host of recent studies have examined possible biological effects of modulated RF energy similar to that produced by major wireless access technologies (such as GSM, TDMA, CDMA, TETRA), with separate evaluation of effects of each technology.

Coherent Oscillations of Biological Structures In the 1970s and 1980s the noted physicist Fröhlich (now deceased) proposed that RF fields can excite ‘‘coherent oscillations’’ in cell membranes and macromolecules (8). Hyland (9) has cited this work in support of his claims that biological systems can be influenced by the modulation characteristics of microwave signals from mobile phones. However, Adair (10) showed that the damping effects of water surrounding biological structures are far too strong to allow resonances to exist at RFs. Moreover, the energy that can be added to a biological structure by an RF field of reasonable strength is many orders of magnitude below the energy already present in the structure due to random thermal agitation. Supporters of the theory have not rebutted Adair’s objections, and other theories (e.g. 11) that propose sharp frequency effects in biological systems fail for similar reasons.

At least one expert group in the West has issued ‘‘precautionary’’ recommendations related to modulation. In May 2000, the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones (IEGMP) advised that ‘‘as a precautionary measure, amplitude modulation around 16 Hz should be avoided if possible, in future developments in signal coding’’ (15). This recommendation was also based on studies related to the calcium efflux effect.

Large body of studies from countries of the former Soviet Union reporting modulation-dependent effects, which have not been reviewed extensively by Western agencies. Notable among these are studies by the group led by Akoev in Pushchino (Russia) that reported modulation-dependent effects in a variety of in vivo and in vitro systems (19–24).

One thing is clear: If modulation is biologically significant (apart from a few special cases such as intense pulses), the entire rationale for RF exposure guidelines would need revision. Present evidence does not indicate that this is the case. While more data will be published that bear on this issue, they will not be coming in quickly and they are unlikely to be definitive. Given public concerns about the safety of wireless communications systems, the issue of ‘‘modulation’’ will not be easily settled.

Reference: Kenneth R. Foster and Michael H. Repacholi “Biological Effects of Radiofrequency Fields: Does Modulation Matter?,” Radiation Research 162(2), 219-225, (1 August 2004). https://doi.org/10.1667/RR3191

The effect of modulation Dr. Andrew Goldsworthy, Lecturer and Biological Safety Officer (retired) Imperial College London.

Living cell membranes are electrically non-linear and have a voltage across them of approximately 70mV. They are pierced by countless ion channels that behave like electrically biased Schottky diodes capable of rectifying and so demodulating any alternating signal (including microwave frequencies) with the demodulated low frequency components appearing between the inside and outside of the cell. This is what does most of the damage and here is why:

The cell membrane is mainly made of a lipid bilayer only about 10nM thick, with proteins such as ion channels “floating” in it. The membrane itself is negatively charged because it has outwardly directed negatively charged phosphate groups and is normally stabilised by divalent positive calcium and magnesium ions that cross-link them. But the demodulated cell-phone signal makes the negative membrane and its protective divalent ions move in opposite directions. This destabilizes the membrane and makes it more likely to perforate and collapse the voltage gradient across it. This, in turn, opens voltage-gated calcium ion channels in the membrane that let huge numbers of calcium ions into the cell down a massive 10,000:1 electrochemical gradient.

In nature, this increase in the internal calcium concentration is taken as an indicator to the cell that its membrane (and by implication, the whole cell) has been damaged and sets in train a series of repair mechanisms, which uses a great deal of metabolic energy. If it succeeds, the cell is repaired, if not, the cell dies, but either way a great deal of energy is used. This may in large part explain the chronic fatigue syndrome that was found in early mobile phone users (Yuppie flu) and is now much more widespread in the community due to our constant exposure to cordless phones, their base stations, WiFi and all the other wireless devices that current ICNIRP guidelines regard as safe.

Quote: “Many experiments do not include pulsing and modulation of the carrier signal.” Kostoff et al., 2020

Citation: Ronald N. Kostoff, Paul Heroux, Michael Aschner, Aristides Tsatsakis, Adverse health effects of 5G mobile networking technology under real-life conditions, Toxicology Letters, Volume 323, 2020, Pages 35-40, ISSN 0378-4274,https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2020.01.020.

Brillouin precursors

There are concerns among some researchers and activists that the emergence of Brillouin precursors, which are sharp transients caused by the dispersion of broadband electromagnetic pulses in a dielectric, could have potential health impacts in the context of 5G technology. Some studies suggest that these precursors may increase the strength of electromagnetic radiation pulses and cause them to penetrate deeper into the human body than previously thought, potentially leading to health effects such as tissue damage and cancer. However, there is debate among experts over the validity of these concerns, with some arguing that the evidence is inconclusive or that the precursors may not pose a significant risk at the levels at which they are produced in 5G networks.

Are pulsing EMFs more bioactive than CW (continuous wave) EMFs?

•Comparing DNA damage induced by mobile telephony and other types of man-made electromagnetic fields Panagopoulos, 2019

It is important to note that except for the RF/microwave carrier frequency, Extremely Low Frequencies – ELFs (0–3000 Hz) are always present in all telecommunication EMFs in the form of pulsing and modulation.

The “ion forced-oscillation mechanism” for irregular gating of electro-sensitive ion channels on cell membranes which predicts that pulsing EMFs are more bioactive than CW EMFs of the same other parameters, and that the biological activity of any specific type of EMF is inversely proportional to its frequency and proportional to its intensity [[95], [96], [97]

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31416578/]

•Human‑made electromagnetic fields: Ion forced‑oscillation and voltage‑gated ion channel dysfunction, oxidative stress and DNA damage (Review)

Panagopoulos et al., 2021

The ELF/ULF EMFs and even more the pulsing RF EMFs with ELF pulsations such as all WC EMFs, are predicted to be the most bioactive.

It has been claimed that the ELF components of complex RF-ELF EMFs of WC need to be ‘demodulated’ in order to be sensed by living organisms (232). ‘Demodulated’ or not, the fact is that the ELF components of modulated/pulsed WC signals can be directly sensed by both ELF meters/spectrum analyzers and living organisms (40,55).

Both DNA damage and alterations in protein synthesis, especially increased levels of stress proteins, are reported to be induced similarly by both ELF and pulsing RF EMFs (237,238). However, the effects of pulsing RF were attributed to the carrier frequency, and it was not considered that perhaps in both cases (ELF and pulsing RF) the ELF components might be responsible for the effects, as suggested now by the present study.

https://www.spandidos-publications.com/10.3892/ijo.2021.5272

The Europaem 2016 Table 3 suggests that the recommended radiation maximum levels of Wi-Fi are 1000 times less than for FM. Wi-Fi is pulsed, FM not.

As per ‘Biological Effects of Radiofrequency Fields: Does Modulation Matter?’ from 2004 (referenced earlier on in the post), given public concerns about the safety of wireless communications systems, the issue of ‘modulation’ will not easily be settled, even in 2023

*References

https://www.rfwireless-world.com/Terminology/What-is-modulation.html

https://www.thomasnet.com/articles/automation-electronics/what-is-modulation/

https://www.waveform.com/a/b/guides/modulation-coding-speeds

https://www.electronics-notes.com/articles/connectivity/4g-lte-long-term-evolution/ofdm-ofdma-scfdma-modulation.php

https://www.business.com/articles/what-is-802-11-ax-wi-fi/

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8085125

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ICASA STATE OF THE ICT SECTOR IN SOUTH AFRICA – 2023 REPORT

https://www.icasa.org.za/legislation-and-regulations/state-of-ict-sector-report-2023-report

4.5.3 Base Stations
The graph below shows the number of base stations during the financial years 2021/22 and 2022/23.
There is a slight decrease in the total number of 2G, 3G, and 4G/LTE base stations while there is a significant increase in the number of 5G base stations.

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Debriefing Webinar of the SA National Report

Join us on the 26th of June 2022 at 3pm (South African time) for a debriefing of the report. The webinar is free of charge and all are welcome. Residents (scientists and the general public) from other countries might find the report and discussion insightful. Interested parties can register for the webinar by contacting us at:
https://www.emfsa.co.za/contact/

Link to the report:

Questions – feel free to send these to us ahead of the webinar, at https://www.emfsa.co.za/contact/

Image credit: Nathan Farrish Unsplash.com

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The book can be downloaded for free:  (198 page pdf)
https://www.orsaa.org/uploads/6/7/7/9/67791943/frequencies_used_in_telecommunications__an_integrated_radiobiological_assessment.pdf

Sources:

ORSAA Oceania Radiofrequency Scientific Advisory Association Inc
https://www.orsaa.org/

EMR Australia PL https://emraustralia.com.au/

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Win an Acoustimeter AM 11!

Details: https://mailchi.mp/emfsa/win-an-acoustimeter-am-11

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Wednesday, May 19, 2021

Communications and Digital Technologies Minister, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, has announced that R27 billion has been pledged by operators and vendors to usher in 5G fibre technologies in South Africa. 

The Minister said this when she tabled the department’s budget vote during a mini plenary of the National Assembly on Tuesday. 

“We believe that partnerships and collaborations are key to taking our sector to greater heights. 

“I am therefore pleased to announce that R27 billion is being pledged collectively by the operators and vendors to expand the 4G network, and to deploy the 5G and fibre technologies in South Africa, which has been tested by some operators,” she said. 

The announcement comes not long after mobile giant MTN launched 100 5G sites around the country, including in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Bloemfontein and Gqeberha. 

Ndabeni-Abrahams said the network expansion is also extending to rural and underserved areas, which will benefit communities and create jobs.

“As such, I hope that the licensing of the Wholesale Open Access Network (WOAN) and the High-Demand Spectrum will complement these rollout plans.

“In line with government’s vision of connecting 80% of public buildings by 2024, our entities will connect 6687 sites across the country.” 

Spectrum to be released by end of March 2022 

As per the President’s announcement during the State of the Nation Address earlier this year, the Communications and Digital Technologies Department commenced with the analogue switch-off in March this year. 

To date, government has switched off a total of 32 sites in the three priority provinces.  This represents 40% of the planned sites in the three priority provinces of the Free State, Northern Cape and North West.

“The analogue switch-off process is targeting to release the much-needed 700MHz and 800MHZ digital dividend spectrum. 

“The spectrum will be released in a phased provincial manner across the country towards our goal of end of March 2022. 

“This process, combined with the digital-to-digital migration, will make available a total of 168MHz spectrum in each of the provinces,” the Minister said.  

The department is working with the TV broadcasting industry to ensure that the target of March 2022 is realised. 

“This will allow spectrum availability for IMT(International Mobile Telecommunications) services on broadband, which ICASA is in the process of licensing. 

“The remaining five provinces will have a voucher-system model. We are looking forward to the effective partnership with the industry and support when we begin to roll out the voucher system towards realising a successful migration process. 

“We call upon everyone across the country to rally behind us when we pave the way for a better South Africa for ourselves and the future generation,” Ndabeni-Abrahams said. – SAnews.gov.za

https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/r27bn-pledge-usher-5g-technologies

•Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams: Communications and Digital Technologies Dept Budget Vote 2021/22

18 May 2021

Theme:  “Championing Digital Economy for Societal Transformation”.

https://www.gov.za/speeches/minister-stella-ndabeni-abrahams-communications-and-digital-technologies-dept-budget-vote

More on the topic:

•Government ready to expand 5G and fibre to all South Africans, minister says

Amanda Khoza, Presidency reporter

May 18 ,2021

https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2021-05-18-government-ready-to-expand-5g-and-fibre-to-all-south-africans-minister-says/

Communications and digital technologies minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on Tuesday announced that R27bn had been pledged collectively by operators and vendors to expand the 4G network and to deploy 5G and fibre in SA.

“This network expansion is extending to rural and underserved areas, which will benefit communities and create jobs. As such, I hope that the licensing of the Wireless Open Access Network and the High-Demand Spectrum will complement these rollout plans,” said Ndabeni-Abrahams.

Speaking during the tabling of her R3.7bn budget vote for the 2021/2022 financial year, the minister said the government envisaged connecting 80% of public buildings by 2024.

Providing an update on the commitments made during 2019’s budget vote, Ndabeni-Abrahamsa said: “Cabinet approved the report and the presidential commission on the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). I am pleased to inform you that the project management office has developed the consultative strategic implementation plan to ensure that the recommendations of the report are implemented by all critical stakeholders to position SA globally.”

A commitment was also made to overhaul all policies and legislation to enable digital transformation.

“We have since reviewed the Electronic Communications Amendment Bill, the South African Broadcasting Corporation Bill, the South African Post Bank Amendment Bill, data and cloud policy gazetting, audio and audiovisual policy that are gazetted,” said the minister, who was also tasked with establishing a new department to drive digital transformation.

In this regard, she said a new five-year strategy, a service delivery model and a new organisational structure had been developed.

“We further undertook to reconfigure our state-owned entities to be in line with our new mandate. We have commenced with the establishment of the State Digital Infrastructure Company through which we have developed its business case and the draft bill which is in the consultation stages.”

Ndabeni-Abrahams added that progress had been made with the reconfiguration of State Information Technology Agency (SITA) into forming the State Digital Infrastructure Company. A business case and the draft bill has been developed and are in consultation stages, she said.

Read more at https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2021-05-18-government-ready-to-expand-5g-and-fibre-to-all-south-africans-minister-says/

•Not-so-Stella: MPs not happy with communications minister’s budget

Amanda Khoza, Presidency reporter

19 May 2021

https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2021-05-19-not-so-stella-mps-not-happy-with-communications-ministers-budget/

MPs were not impressed with communications and digital technologies minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams’ R3.7bn budget vote, presented on Tuesday afternoon.

Many criticised the minister’s ability to deliver on her promises, including making internet accessible to all South Africans. They also took aim at the slow pace of digital migration and the dismal performance by state-owned entities.

Praise from her political party members was expected, with ANC MP Boyce Maneli saying that in his 2021 state of the nation address President Cyril Ramaphosa had identified telecommunications as one of the areas of reform to realise the economic reconstruction and recovery plan.

“Budget votes such as these tend to focus on state-owned entities and their ability to not deliver on their targets. We also tend to focus on funds appropriated in the form of bailouts in previous years which have not led to solutions,” said Maneli.

This, said Maneli, meant that there is little focus on projects that have been successfully implemented by the government.

He welcomed the move to fast-track digital migration, saying, “This will ensure that both subsidised and unsubsidised households will digitally migrate to enjoy free-to-air channels which includes the parliament channel that they are not accessing from paid-channel services.”

But the DA’s Zakhele Mbhele said: “It is time for change.”

Mbhele added: “Now, more than ever before, it is fundamental to change and go back to basics. This is fundamentally and abundantly clear in the communications and technologies portfolio where entities are due for fundamental reform.”

He said state-owned companies needed to be turned around from being sluggish to self-sufficient, sustaining and value-adding operations.

“The truth is that with declining economic growth and tax revenue forecasts for the foreseeable future, some kind of painful change will inevitably happen down the line for these entities, whether they want it or are ready for it,” he said.

The EFF’s Vuyani Pambo said it was critical to note the continued financial failure of the department.

Read more at: https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2021-05-19-not-so-stella-mps-not-happy-with-communications-ministers-budget/

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Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA) European Parliament

31-05-2021 10:00
Presentation of the studies: ‘Health impact of 5G’ and ‘Environmental impacts of 5G’ (online event)

Over the last decades, novel wireless communication technologies, such as mobile telephones, cellular networks, and Wi-Fi, have been developed at unparalleled speed. The forthcoming rollout of 5G technology across the EU is expected to bring new opportunities for citizens and businesses by enabling faster internet browsing, streaming and downloading, as well as by ensuring better connectivity. However, 5G, along with 3G and 4G, with which it will operate in parallel for several years, may also pose threats to human health. This event will present the results of two STOA studies, which take stock of our present understanding of the impacts of 5G on health and the environment.

DRAFT PROGRAMME

10:00-10:15 – WELCOME and INTRODUCTION

Eva KAILI, MEP and STOA Chair

Michèle Rivasi, MEP and STOA Panel member

Ivo Hristov, MEP and STOA Panel member

10:15-10:30 – HEALTH IMPACT OF 5G

Fiorella Belpoggi, Ramazzini Institute, Bologna, Italy

10:30-10:45 – ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF 5G

Arno Thielens, Ghent University – imec, Ghent, Belgium

10:45-10:55 – PRESENTATION OF THE ESMH KNOWLEDGE MAP ON 5G

Julia Köberlein, Bernhard Scholz, Kontextlab, Munich, Germany

10:55-11:35 – DISCUSSANTS

Joachim Schüz, International Agency for Research on Cancer, WHO, France (TBC)

Kurt Straif, Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), Spain

Martin Vácha, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

11:35-11:45 – CLOSING REMARKS

Ivo Hristov, MEP and STOA Panel member

Michèle Rivasi, MEP and STOA Panel member

Moderator: Michel Salvator Israel, Medical University, Pleven, Bulgaria

Event will be held via Interacio platform, interpretation in EN, FR, IT, BG languages (t.b.c.)

Watch the event live: webstreaming link will be placed below when available.

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/stoa/en/events/details/presentation-of-the-studies-health-impac/20210506EOT05461

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By Chris Teale

Published

March 26, 2021

Dive Brief:

• Some smart city technologies are more at risk of a cyberattack than others, according to recent research from the University of California at Berkeley (UC Berkeley), meaning local leaders must be more conscious of the technology’s associated risks. 
• Researchers found that emergency alert systems, street video surveillance and some types of traffic signals are the most vulnerable to an attack, and bad actors could potentially cause great disruption and negative consequences when hacking into them. By contrast, smart waste systems and satellite water leak detection are among the safest.
• The report recommended that when assessing whether to invest in certain smart city technologies, leaders should consider the interests and capabilities of those who want to hack into those technologies, and the potential impact of any attacks on their systems and the lives of their residents.

Read more at: https://tinyurl.com/3w5b4y56

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Pretoria – The Council of the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa ( ICASA/the Authority) has resolved to review the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) COVID-19 National Disaster Regulations (The Regulations) and extend the temporary radio frequency spectrum assignments issued to licensees for another two months (from 1 April 2021 to 31 May 2021).

The temporary release of high demand spectrum (HDS) to licensees aimed to mitigate the impact of the national state of disaster following the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020, mainly by easing network congestion, maintaining good quality of broadband services, and enabling licensees to lower the cost of access to consumers.

The regulations made provision for, amongst others; the zero-rating of some critical health and education websites in order to promote universal access and service to health information and services, and to support the development of virtual classrooms for learners.

In this context, the Authority notes that, as of 25 January 2021, over a thousand web sites have been zero-rated, within the following categories:

• 651 sites added by the Department of Higher Education and Training;
• 413 sites added by the Department of Basic Education;
• 15 sites added by the Department of Health.

The 1 079 websites cover the following categories:

• Universities and ac.za;
• Public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges;
• Public Community Education and Training (CET) institutions;
• Private Higher Education Institutions;
• Private colleges;
• Agricultural and Nursing Colleges;
• COVID-19-related websites identified by the Department of Health; and
• Approved local websites offering free access to COVID-19 health content resources.

Following the expiry of the temporary spectrum extension on 31 May 2021, the Authority will embark on a comprehensive review of the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) COVID-19 National Disaster Regulations, which include the radio frequency spectrum extensions, as well as the relaxation of compliance requirements in respect of local content for broadcasters, and type-approval obligations.

According to the Chairperson of ICASA, Dr Keabetswe Modimoeng, the Authority needs to safeguard the interest of consumers within the temporary spectrum licensing regime.

“As mobile network operators continue to provide services while deriving commercial value from this high value spectrum resource, we need to delicately apply ourselves on these extensions in a manner that is justifiable and primarily beneficial to the South African public. We will be doing so over the next two months while expediting our appeal processes on the formal licensing court interdict. Industry needs to dig deep and assist the process further by modelling best pro-consumer offerings on the back of these temporary licences,” says Dr Modimoeng.

Ends…

For all media enquiries, please contact:

Paseka Maleka
Tel : (012) 568 3455
Cell : 079 509 0702
E-mail : pmaleka@icasa.org.za

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Katy Stickland, March 23, 2021

New requirements have been introduced for the OFCOM licence for all licensable radio equipment due to concerns about the risk of exposure to electromagnetic field (EMF) emissions from the 4G & 5G mobile phone network.

This will affect skippers using radio, radar and other emergency alerting equipment on UK vessels, and shore-based installations such as yacht clubs.

Licensees are now required to provide evidence that their installation does not exceed the general public safety limits for EMF.

New licensees must comply with the regulations with immediate effect.

Read more at: https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/news/ofcom-licence-changes-announced-due-to-emf-concerns-77116?fbclid=IwAR0VrC-0F7iKeN-bO2HdMP2C_Yz66Cc4kuaRxUxVv4WikFo9zeG8NFTgB9M

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