Research and regulation are increasingly intersecting with questions surrounding electromagnetic fields (EMF) and radiofrequency (RF) radiation. What happens when questions about scientific evidence and exposure standards extend into regulation, corporate governance, litigation and financial risk?

The September 2026 EMFSA newsletter considers some of those connections.

EMFSA | 29 September 2026

What is changing in the research and regulatory landscape?

Several recent developments in the United States and France are putting renewed attention on radiofrequency radiation and health, but they are taking different forms.

In the United States, federal agencies are seeking public input on questions ranging from the evidence for potential health effects to exposure levels, research gaps and the scientific basis for existing approaches. The FCC proceeding also raises detailed questions about the quality and interpretation of the evidence, including study design, exposure assessment, dosimetry, confounding and the distinction between association and causation.

What questions are being asked about the evidence? What research gaps have been identified? And how might future research inform regulatory discussions?

In France, ANSES is approaching the subject through a call intended to support new research into radiofrequencies and health.

These developments are examined in greater detail in Electromagnetic Fields and Radiofrequency Radiation: U.S. HHS Seeks Public Input; France Calls for New Research.

What does telecommunications infrastructure mean for corporate risk?

Telecommunications networks operate within complex regulatory and commercial environments. Infrastructure and licensing are only part of the picture.

What happens when market access or regulatory decisions involve government officials or politically connected intermediaries? What controls are needed around third-party payments? How can companies manage risks associated with corporate governance, compliance and anti-bribery obligations?

These questions are particularly relevant to telecommunications companies operating across multiple jurisdictions, where local regulatory requirements may intersect with foreign anti-corruption and anti-bribery laws.

Telecommunications Infrastructure and Corporate Risk examines these issues and the broader compliance environment surrounding telecommunications infrastructure.

Who ultimately bears the financial risk?

A different set of questions arises when EMF/RF issues become the subject of litigation.

If a claim continues for years, who pays the cost of defending it? If a company settles a claim or is ultimately found liable, does its insurance respond? What happens when a policy contains exclusions relating to radiation, signal-transmitting equipment or telecommunications infrastructure?

Insurance coverage and legal liability are not necessarily the same question. The wording of an insurance policy can determine whether particular risks are transferred to an insurer or remain with the company.

These issues are explored in EMF/RF Insurance: Who Is Responsible?, which looks at insurance exclusions, defence costs and the potential allocation of financial risk in EMF/RF-related litigation.

Following the connections

Research, regulation, corporate governance, litigation and insurance may appear to be separate subjects. Yet developments in one area can raise questions in another.

For EMFSA, following these connections is part of examining the wider implications of electromagnetic fields and radiofrequency radiation — while keeping the focus on evidence, documented developments and the questions that remain open.

The September 2026 newsletter brings these three strands together, while the individual articles provide a more detailed examination of each subject.

The post From Research and Regulation to Corporate and Insurance Risk appeared first on EMFSA.

Image created using OpenAI’s DALL-E 3*

Published on November 29th, 2024

Exploring Starlink’s Next Frontier in Connectivity

Starlink Direct to Cell: How It Works

•Starlink Direct to Cell does not rely on traditional cell towers. Instead, it leverages its satellites and ground-based infrastructure, such as gateway stations and Points of Presence (PoPs), to deliver internet and cellular connectivity.

•The system uses laser backhaul technology to connect satellites within the existing Starlink constellation. This allows even the earlier satellites to provide global services, subject to regulatory approvals, without depending on extensive ground infrastructure.

•Starlink satellites equipped with Direct to Cell capability feature an advanced eNodeB modem onboard, functioning like a cellphone tower in space. This technology enables seamless network integration, operating similarly to a standard roaming partner. 

•Direct to Cell works with existing LTE phones wherever you can see the sky. No changes to hardware, firmware, or special apps are required, providing seamless access to text, voice, and data.

•Direct to Cell will provide Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity in areas beyond the reach of traditional ground-based infrastructure, such as cell towers and fiber-optic cables. This will enable millions of devices across vital global industries to connect.

Regulatory Milestones

The Federal Communications Commission granted SpaceX conditional approval on Nov. 26 2024 to use Starlink broadband satellites to keep T-Mobile smartphone users connected in cellular dead zones across the United States. SpaceX received permission to use T-Mobile’s cellular frequencies on up to 7,500 Gen2 Starlink satellites to provide Supplemental Coverage from Space (SCS), provided it does not interfere with other networks.

Global Deployment and Future Plans

SpaceX now has a sufficient number of satellites in Earth’s orbit to offer commercial services for its cellular Starlink system. However, full-scale deployment in the United States remains under review, with the FCC requiring broader licensing for complete operational approval.

Internationally, Starlink is working on regulatory clearances with various countries, as seen in partnerships with telecom operators such as T-Mobile (U.S.), Rogers (Canada), Optus (Australia), KDDI (Japan), and Salt (Switzerland) These collaborations aim to integrate Starlink’s Direct-to-Cell service into existing networks once approval is secured. The service is expected to initially support SMS messaging, with voice and data capabilities planned for a 2025 rollout, subject to regulatory progress.

Opportunities and Challenges for Telecommunications

•Opportunities

Starlink’s Direct to Cell service is a significant innovation that could pressure traditional telecoms to expand their rural coverage and improve service quality. However, it may complement rather than entirely replace traditional telecoms, particularly in urban markets where fiber and 5G are dominant. 

•Challenges

Direct-to-Cell services also pose significant challenges to terrestrial telecom providers. While traditional companies focus on ground-based infrastructure like fiber and 5G, satellite operators are introducing disruptive models that could reduce the reliance on extensive terrestrial networks. This growing competition is likely to spark global regulatory battles and lobbying efforts.

Traditional telecom companies, with their strong relationships with regulators and governments, may leverage licensing, spectrum allocation, and local laws to slow Starlink’s expansion.

Regulatory and Competitive Dynamics

Tension between traditional telecom operators and satellite-based broadband providers like Starlink, OneWeb, and Amazon’s Kuiper is evident across various regions, driven by competition and regulatory challenges.

European Union

In the EU European telecom operators have voiced concerns about the allocation of spectrum for satellite internet services. They argue that LEO satellites like Starlink and OneWeb could interfere with terrestrial 5G services, which also rely on mid-band and high-frequency spectrums. The European Telecommunications Network Operators’ Association (ETNO), now known as Connect Europe, has lobbied for stricter rules on spectrum sharing and prioritization, aiming to protect investments in 5G infrastructure. 

Italy

Italian telecom operators, represented by the industry group Asstel, view Starlink as a disruptive competitor and a potential threat to their business, with its entry into Italy causing noticeable friction.

United States

The T-Mobile and Starlink partnership raised alarm among rival telecom operators, who fear potential spectrum interference and market encroachment by satellite operators. 

India

In India, Starlink faced regulatory pushback after pre-selling its services without the necessary licenses. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) intervened, prompted by lobbying from the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI). Local telecom operators argued for stricter licensing requirements, emphasizing that unregulated satellite services could undermine the domestic telecom industry.

Africa

Starlink’s rapid expansion of its satellite internet service across Africa over the past two years has elicited mixed reactions. With speeds significantly surpassing those of fixed broadband providers, an increasing number of consumers and businesses on the continent are eager to adopt the service. However, telecommunications companies and internet service providers who have invested heavily in local network infrastructure are apprehensive about Starlink and the formidable competition it represents. 

Starlink faced delays in launching in South Africa due to government requirements to partner with a local entity and adhere to Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) rules. Telcos there have also voiced concerns about the competition it would bring to their rural broadband efforts. Telecommunication companies have used regulatory hurdles to slow Starlink’s entry into the market, citing concerns about data sovereignty and the potential for market disruption. 

Brazil

In Brazil, Starlink’s partnerships to connect remote schools and the Amazon rainforest have created friction with local telecom providers. Brazilian telcos have lobbied for stricter satellite licensing processes, citing concerns over potential interference with local services and whether satellite operators comply with tax and regulatory obligations. Additionally, SpaceSail, a Chinese rival to Starlink, signed an agreement on November 20, 2024, to enter the Brazilian market, further intensifying competition.

Australia

In rural Australia, Starlink’s presence challenges Telstra’s dominance in providing remote connectivity, traditionally supported by government subsidies. Telstra has argued for subsidies to focus on terrestrial infrastructure, questioning the reliability and scalability of satellite services. Despite this, Australia’s two largest telecom operators have begun backing LEO satellite technologies, signaling a shift in the competitive landscape.

Starlink’s Potential Impact on Traditional Telecommunications

Starlink’s satellite-based service has the potential to disrupt traditional telecommunication companies, but whether it poses a direct threat depends on several factors.

Advantages of Starlink

1. Global Coverage: Starlink’s satellite network provides near-global coverage, including areas where traditional telecoms lack infrastructure.
2. Ease of Access: By aiming to connect directly to standard cell phones without additional hardware, Starlink could simplify user access and reduce reliance on terrestrial networks.
3. Infrastructure Independence: Starlink’s satellite-based system bypasses the need for terrestrial infrastructure like cell towers and fiber optics, offering resilience in natural disasters and challenging geographies.
4. Competitive Pricing: Starlink’s pricing model could undercut traditional telecom providers, making it an attractive alternative.

Challenges and Disadvantages

1. Regulatory and Market Challenges: Traditional telecom providers, with their strong relationships with regulators and governments, may leverage these connections to create obstacles for Starlink. Licensing requirements, spectrum allocation processes, and compliance with local laws could delay its expansion. In regions where telecom providers hold monopolistic or oligopolistic control, they may also use their entrenched market positions and lobbying power to resist competition from satellite-based services.
2. Environmental Concerns: Issues like light pollution and rocket emissions could lead to stricter regulations, potentially delaying satellite launches and increasing costs. Unlike satellite services, traditional telecom infrastructure (e.g., fiber optics and cell towers) does not face the same level of global scrutiny.

Conclusion: The Threat to Traditional Telecoms

Starlink’s success will depend on its ability to navigate regulatory challenges and adapt to competitive dynamics in diverse markets.

At the Satellite 2020 conference, Elon Musk estimated the global market for providing internet access to underserved areas could be worth $30 billion annually. Musk downplayed the threat to traditional telecoms, stating:

“Starlink is not some huge threat to telcos. I want to be super clear: it is not.”

However, as the author for Light Reading noted, “By definition, a company providing connectivity that’s easy to get and reaches anywhere has to be a huge concern to telcos and cable providers – companies designed and run for decades to exist as unchallenged regional monopolies” (Light Reading, source)

While Starlink, SpaceMobile, and similar services may target different geographies and customer bases, their ability to offer seamless, global connectivity challenges the traditional telecom model. This could carve away significant portions of the $30 billion market Musk envisioned in 2020, reshaping the competitive landscape and compelling telecoms to adapt or risk obsolescence.

*About the image used in this post: Learn more about OpenAI’s image generation tool: https://openai.com/dall-e

References

1.StarlinkBusiness Direct To Cell https://www.starlink.com/business/direct-to-cell

2.SpaceX gets conditional approval for direct-to-smartphone service https://spacenews.com/spacex-gets-conditional-approval-for-direct-to-smartphone-service/

3.SpaceX breaks turnaround record, launching Falcon 9 booster, B1080, twice in less than 2 weeks https://spaceflightnow.com/2024/11/24/live-coverage-spacex-to-launch-23-starlink-satellites-on-falcon-9-rocket-from-cape-canaveral-5/

4.SpaceX: Cellular Starlink Service Is Ready to Go https://www.pcmag.com/news/spacex-cellular-starlink-service-is-ready-to-go

5.Adios, dead zones: Starlink relays SMS in space for unmodified phones on Earth https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/12/starlinks_satellite_cellular/

6.SpaceX Receives FCC Approval for Starlink Direct-To-Cell Tests

7.Musk’s Starlink is ‘not some huge threat to telcos https://www.lightreading.com/services/musk-s-starlink-is-not-some-huge-threat-to-telcos-

8.Starlink ruffles some feathers in Italy’s telco industry https://www.teslarati.com/starlink-italy-telco-association/

9.AT&T and Verizon have a beef with T-Mobile’s Starlink satellite service https://www.theverge.com/2024/8/16/24221677/att-verizon-fcc-complaint-tmobile-spacex-starlink-satellite-service

10.SpaceX accuses European telcos of bullying https://www.telecoms.com/satellite/spacex-accuses-european-telcos-of-bullying

11.Connect Europe unveils “Europe’s Digital Choice”, an ambitious policy agenda for the new EU leadership https://connecteurope.org/news/connect-europe-unveils-europes-digital-choice-ambitious-policy-agenda-new-eu-leadership

12.Starlink is not a licensee, clarifies Department Telecommunications https://pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=1775425&reg=3&l

13.Starlink’s aggressive push in Africa keeps telcos on high alert https://african.business/2024/11/technology-information/starlinks-aggressive-push-in-africa-keeps-telcos-on-high-alert

14.Starlink black ownership plan in South Africa https://mybroadband.co.za/news/broadband/572641-starlink-black-ownership-plan-in-south-africa.html

15.Namibia Orders Starlink to Cease all Operations in the Country https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/company-news/2024/11/28/namibia-orders-starlink-to-cease-all-operations-in-the-country/

16.Brazil seeks to break Starlink’s monopoly https://www.lemonde.fr/en/economy/article/2024/11/18/brazil-seeks-to-break-starlink-s-monopoly_6733222_19.html

17.Chinese rival to Starlink strikes deal to enter Brazil https://www.reuters.com/technology/space/chinas-starlink-rival-agrees-deal-enter-brazilian-market-2024-11-20

18.Optus joins Telstra in offering Starlink https://www.cyberdaily.au/tech/11278-optus-joins-telstra-in-offering-starlink

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China Standards 2035

Chinese government is working towards a standards master plan — China Standards 2035, a blueprint for China’s government bodies and leading technology companies to set global standards for emerging technologies like 5G internet, IoT, artificial intelligence, e-commerce traceability, smart and green manufacturing, and clean energy, among other areas. China is also trying to persuade multilateral standards agencies to recognize its growing clout.

Standards-setting institutions

Little-noticed work being conducted at standards-setting institutions such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) will play an outsized role in determining global technology leadership.

The International Telecommunication Union is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for all matters related to information and communication technologies. Houlin Zhao was elected as ITU Secretary-General on 1 November 2018. He began his second ​four-year term on 1 January 2019. Although he was sworn into his ITU role with a pledge to act “with the interest of the union only in view” while avoiding influence from any one country, he regularly celebrates China’s growing presence in the telecoms and internet industries.

Chinese telecommunications and other technology companies are sending increasing numbers of engineers to the international standards organizations (ISOs0). They often engage in bloc voting in standards meetings, which is in some cases coordinated by Chinese Communist Party officials. These tactics reinforce their drive to establish important standards for 5G systems and related products favorable to their domestic producers. They also try to leverage their growing political and economic strength around the world to win support from engineers from countries under their influence.

At a meeting of the Third Generation Partnership Project (the global organization that sets 5G standards) the chairman admonished Chinese representatives not to take phones into the voting booths— a practice of Chinese delegations at some United nation meetings. The suspicion, confirmed by Chinese delegates from other companies, was that they all had to show proof they voted with the Huawei candidate, said a person familiar with the vote.

Integrity of standards organizations

In the past international standards organizations (ISOs) have operated on a good faith, consensus of interested parties process in which experts debate and decide the strength of competing technologies. Chinese firms’ alarming use of bloc voting and dubious claims of patent strength to win acceptance of their standards proposals slowly sap the integrity of ISOs in the most egregious cases.

In recent years, Chinese firms, led by Huawei and state-owned ZTE, have moved aggressively to win acceptance of their 5G standards (based on their own patents in many cases) in relevant international standards organizations (ISOs).  These include the 3GPP organization for mobile broadband standards, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) organization for electronics standards, and the 5G Automobile Association for communications standards enabling autonomous and connected vehicles.

It has been a similar story at the 88-member International Electrotechnical Commission, an organization that publishes standards on all electronic items. China’s influence at the IEC has grown steadily, culminating in the appointment in January of Shu Yinbiao — who is also chairman of the State Grid Corporation of China — as president of the IEC. Zhao completes the picture as head of the ITU, which he is due to lead until 2023.

China’s standards-setting clout

The increased representation has had a marked effect on China’s standards-setting clout. As of March 2019, for instance, China had proposed 11 standards for the internet of things within the ISO/IEC framework, of which five had been adopted and published and six were still pending review

State Grid Corporation of China has also pulled off a coup. The IEC has agreed to take on co-ordinating standards for a concept called Global Energy Interconnection, which essentially aims to create huge grids of power cables that run between countries and continents. If the idea gets off the ground it could directly benefit State Grid, which is the global leader in making ultra-high voltage transmission lines.

The build-up of such institutional firepower in these standards-setting bodies is a sure sign that China is set to wield much more influence over global technological standards.

“Smart” and “safe”cities

The Belt and Road Initiative is generally seen as a huge Chinese program to build roads, railways, ports, airports and other forms of infrastructure in mostly developing countries. But the BRI is also a means of diffusing Chinese technologies — and the standards they operate on — across the developing world by constructing what Beijing calls a “digital silk road.”

According to research by RWR Advisory, a Washington-based consultancy, Chinese companies have done 116 deals to install smart city and “safe city” packages around the world since 2013, with 70 of these taking place in countries that also participate in the Belt and Road Initiative. The main difference between “smart” and “safe” city equipment is that the latter is intended primarily to surveil and monitor the population, while the former is primarily aimed at automating municipal functions while also incorporating surveillance functions.

As of 2019, some 85 standardization co-operation agreements with 49 countries and regions had been signed, though scant literature exists on the depth and specific contents of such agreements.

China’s standards plan stems from a clear, deliberate strategic progression. Beijing has spent the past two decades establishing influential footholds in multilateral bodies and targeted industrial areas. Now, it is using those footholds to set their rules – with them, to define the infrastructure of the future world.

Global standards in next generation sectors such as 5G, AI, and the architecture of the internet itself, will increasingly be Chinese or heavily China-influenced.

Sources

From AI to facial recognition: how China is setting the rules in new tech https://www.ft.com/content/188d86df-6e82-47eb-a134-2e1e45c777b6

What is the China Standards 2035 Plan and How Will it Impact Emerging Industries? https://tinyurl.com/2aec4675

The Multitier Battle Against Chinese 5G Dominance https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasduesterberg/2020/07/01/the-multitier-battle-against-chinese-5g-dominance/?sh=22827d09f1bd

China Setting Gobal Tech Rules https://www.pressreader.com/canada/national-post-latest-edition/20201026/281745566883779

Identity in a Multi-polar World and China’s 2035 Standards https://medium.com/spherity/identity-in-a-multi-polar-world-and-chinas-2035-standards-66f14865b800

International Telecommunication Union https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Telecommunication_Union

How China is setting new global rules in technology that would make George ‘Orwell blush’ https://financialpost.com/technology/how-china-is-setting-new-global-rules-in-technology-that-would-make-george-orwell-blush

From Lightbulbs to 5G, China Battles West for Control of Vital Technology Standards https://tinyurl.com/66zjezyz

How China Is Taking Over International Organizations, One Vote at a Time https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-china-is-taking-over-international-organizations-one-vote-at-a-time-11601397208?mod=article_inline

The post China and global telecommunication standards appeared first on EMFSA.

By Valentina Pop, Sha Hua and Daniel Michaels Feb. 7

Nearly every product in American homes, from lightbulbs to couches, windows and Wi-Fi routers, conforms to standards and measurements of a global system established to ensure quality and seamless operation.

Industrial standards, created by the U.S. and its allies over decades, form an invisible matrix of rules that underpin the global marketplace. Mundane though it may sound, this uniformity is critical to international trade in how it guarantees that bolts, USB plugs and shipping containers can all be used interchangeably world-wide. The standards reflect the consensus of international panels long dominated by Western technical experts.

China now wants to take the lead in fields of the future. To the consternation of many Western countries, Beijing is employing state funding and political influence to try to define the norms for all manner of cutting-edge technologies that span telecommunications, electricity transmission and artificial intelligence.

“Dominance of technical standards underpinning information and communications technologies and other emerging fields is integral to Beijing’s ambitions,” said Congress’s U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission in its annual report in December.

Read more at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/from-lightbulbs-to-5g-china-battles-west-for-control-of-vital-technology-standards-11612722698

The post From Lightbulbs to 5G, China Battles West for Control of Vital Technology Standards appeared first on EMFSA.

We most strongly condemn the damaging of telecommunications infrastructure. There is absolutely no excuse for this kind of criminal behavior, for whatever reason.

Emergency Services

If towers are damaged emergency communications can be disrupted, endangering the lives of those needing critical care. It makes the work of the emergency services so much harder. We have a lot of respect for those working in emergency services as they put their lives at risk, daily, on behalf of everyone else during this pandemic.

If communications are disrupted those in hospital wards cannot be in contact with their loved ones.

Telecommunication workers have been threatened, one had a brick thrown at him, and verbally abused. A worker was spat at and consequently had to go into coronavirus quarantine. They were just doing their job.

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/coronavirus-5g-masts-police-security-a4420216.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-52370616

Questions remain about the causes of these fires and who the culprits are.

A. Could some of these fires be explained by electrical malfunction or overheating?

The NZ Herald reports that police have confirmed, in a preliminary finding, that an April 9 transmission tower fire in Porirua was caused by a fault.

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12325468&fbclid=IwAR1PciDEcVQP2EpBxJp9gXVOXXjaPRKz-s-YtlqXq_-cCm_t4Ht53UcR7Vc

Historic examples of Cell Tower Fires and Collapsing Towers

https://www.electronicsilentspring.com/primers/cell-towers-cell-phones/cell-tower-fires-collapsing/

In April last year a beautiful old church was destroyed in South Africa. The church steeple housed cell tower antennas. We are not aware of the result of the forensic investigation into the cause of the fire.

https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/redelinghuys-church-blaze-cell-companies-restoring-towns-connectivity-20190410

Note that not all the masts under discussion below are 5G enabled.

Overheating: 5G heats up base stations https://www.emfsa.co.za/news/5g-heats-up-base-stations/

Could increased power consumption have played a role?

https://www.emfsa.co.za/news/5g-energy-consumption-carbon-footprint-climate-change-environmental-impact/

B. Anti-5G protesters

Australia May 2020 – 5G fires: Australian mobile companies work with police to prevent arson attacks. Police investigate whether fire at a telecommunications tower at Cranbourne West in Melbourne was suspicious. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/may/27/5g-fires-australian-mobile-companies-work-with-police-to-prevent-arson-attacks?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=twt_gu&utm_medium&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1590562892

UK/Ireland/Wales

While it’s not yet absolutely certain what motivated these specific attacks, the mayor of Liverpool said he had received threats after condemning the 5G/coronavirus theory, and the Irish News reported that in footage of the mast being set on fire voices could be heard saying “f**k 5G.” A minimum of 53 towers have been set ablaze across the UK.  EE, a British mobile network operator warned that conspiracy theorists pose a “risk to human life”. and “these senseless crimes are creating unnecessary risk to human life, both to those that live in the areas being targeted and to the emergency services working to contain the situation.”

https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/11421457/ee-5g-towers-masts-5g-coronavirus-conspiracy-theory/

Some reports suggest that over 60 masts have been damaged in the UK.

A mast providing mobile connectivity to the Nightingale hospital in Birmingham was also damaged.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/birmingham-nhs-nightingale-hospital-phone-18090436

Firefighters were forced to evacuate properties in Dagenham, Essex, in the early hours after a mast was set ablaze. Two 19-year-old men and an 18-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of arson. Enquiries into the cause are ongoing

https://www.barkinganddagenhampost.co.uk/news/becontree-avenue-phone-mast-fire-1-6606067

In north Donegal, Ireland two masts were set alight. Investigators found pieces of coal near both masts, which provide 3G and 4G internet coverage to nearby Letterkenny Hospital.

https://www.thejournal.ie/5g-masts-destruction-coronavirus-hoax-5074056-Apr2020

May 2020: Derby 5G mast burned in suspected arson attack https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/news/derby-news/live-updates-5g-mast-burned-4160977

8 June 2020, Coronavirus: Man jailed for 5G phone mast arson attack. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-merseyside-52966950?fbclid=IwAR2-UPfs3MdANQOGYLxrEws6Aa4ufnUZEtelXAFy2N4UqXFeLqjaYQUDTrs Three years in prison for man who set fire to phone mast after researching 5G coronavirus theories https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/three-years-prison-man-who-18381653

Netherlands

Towers were damaged in Rotterdam, Liessel, Beesd and Nuenen, where a phrase cursing 5G was sprayed on the transmission box of one of the Dutch towers, which is eerily reminiscent of the same phrase yelled in a video depicting the burning of one of the U.K. towers. In addition, two towers were damaged in Almere – neither of the towers were 5G enabled, one tower was designed only for use by the emergency services. Authorities are blaming the vandalism on the coronavirus/5G conspiracy theory.

https://nypost.com/2020/04/14/netherlands-5g-cell-towers-damaged-amid-covid-19-conspiracy-theories/

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-netherlands-5g-sabotage/dutch-telecommunications-towers-damaged-by-5g-protestors-telegraaf-idUSKCN21T09P

The Dutch group Stop 5GNL has issued a formal statement, distancing themselves from acts of violence and destruction. https://www.ed.nl/kempen/stop-5gnl-neemt-afstand-van-sabotage-zendmasten~ae373ac8/?fbclid=IwAR0Mj9EJD_ZpG1ifTsG6C_7AQ2VXTVl11KywsYjP74ryKCjCLRduuIOUjk4

April 28, 2020: 22nd incident in the Netherlands since April 3rd. The police released multiple videos, showing suspects in various fires, resulting in two arrests. https://nltimes.nl/2020/04/28/police-investigating-22nd-transmission-mast-fire-one-flevoland-town

Belgium

A cell tower was set alight in the town of Pelt, which is close to the Dutch border. The fence around the radio mast has been damaged and the mast itself has been “significantly damaged” by the fire. The transmission mast hosted equipment from Proximus and Telenet. The Belgian police cannot yet say whether the arson of the radio mast in Pelt and the incidents in the Netherlands have anything to do with each other. The affected transmission tower in Belgium does not use 5G technology.

Cyprus

Police said they were investigating arson in connection with an antenna burning on the roof of a Limassol building in Agios Antonios. The antenna in question was installed 20 years ago. Local media also speculated that the perpetrators may have been individuals who oppose the installation of a 5G network in the Republic of Cyprus and they simply went against the wrong target.

https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/5g-bashers-in-cyprus-set-antenna-on-fire

Croatia

(Auto-translated and edited) The Municipality of Bibinje announced the senseless destruction of Wi-Fi equipment, funded by the EU project Wifi4EU. In February, the municipality installed wireless Internet signal transmission equipment at several locations in the site. But with the spread of misinformation that “the Municipality of Bibinje secretly and at night installed 5G signal equipment“, there was an act of vandalism. Equipment installed at the Crljenica Sports Center has been partially destroyed.

https://www.seebiz.eu/tehnologija/bibinje-nepoznati-glupani-ostetili-odasiljac-za-kojeg-su-mislili-da-je-5g/229876/

US

⁃February 2020: A spokesperson for the Memphis Fire Department said fires at four different cell towers were found to be intentionally set.

https://wreg.com/news/arsonist-sought-after-fires-cause-thousands-of-dollars-in-damage-to-memphis-cell-towers/

⁃May 2020: The Departmenf Of Homeland Security is reportedly issuing alerts to wireless telecom providers and law enforcement agencies about potential attacks on cell towers and telecommunications workers.

The DHS warned that there have already been “arson and physical attacks against cell towers in several US states.” The DHS alert will include “advice on ways to reduce the risk of attack, including installing appropriate sensing and barriers, cyber-intrusion detection systems, closed-circuit television and monitoring drone activity near towers,”. The DHS report also warned of possible attacks against the electric grid. https://www.wired.com/story/the-dhs-prepares-for-attacks-fueled-by-5g-conspiracy-theories/

Peru

12 June 2020, Coronavirus: Technicians held in Peru over false 5G Covid links https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-53021239

Russia

3 May 2020, North Ossetia: In Nogir, a settlement north of Vladikavkaz, residents has been left without cellular service after a cell tower was burned down by residents who feared 5G technology. https://oc-media.org/a-cellular-mast-burns-in-north-ossetia-over-5g-technology-fears/

Canada

March 7th, 2020: Last Friday in Laval, Quebec, a cellphone tower went up in flames. The blaze forced 20 people who lived nearby to evacuate. Three days later, two other cellphone towers in nearby towns were lit on fire within 20 minutes of each other, and the following day, another tower in Laval was set ablaze. Early Thursday morning, two more towers caught fire, this time in St-Jerome and Blainville. Quebec police arrested a man and woman in a nearby town but have not laid charges. “(The couple) is linked to the fires of the cell towers that occurred in the last days,” tweeted Quebec Provincial Police (in French). “They will be questioned.” https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/g5px8x/5g-conspiracy-theory-coronavirus-cell-tower-fires-canada

Poland

May 29th, 2020. Another 5G mast in Poland destroyed. The perpetrators are facing up to 5 years in prison. There are many opponents of the 5G network and acts of vandalism also occur in Poland. Another mast that was destroyed in the country is the one located in Sielec. A 35-year-old inhabitant of Chełm damaged the tower structure. The police took care of the matter and the accused is facing up to 5 years imprisonment. There was also an act of vandalism in Lodz. https://www.komputerswiat.pl/aktualnosci/sprzet/kolejny-maszt-5g-w-polsce-zniszczony-sprawcy-grozi-do-5-lat-wiezienia/9hpgbsq?utm_source=www.komputerswiat.pl_viasg_komputerswiat&utm_medium=referal&utm_campaign=leo_automatic&srcc=ucs&utm_v=2

C. Racial Motivation

Nazi and Chinese flags were hoisted atop a phone tower in regional Victoria. Kyabram locals have condemned it as racially motivated. It is the second instance of a Nazi flag being flown in plain sight in rural Victoria this year. Dr Dvir Abramovich, of the Anti-Defamation Commission, called the act “disgusting”. He added: “It is chilling to think that in Australia in 2020, there are individuals with dangerous hatred in their hearts, walking our streets, who openly celebrate Hitler’s satanic ideology.”

Anti-5G conspiracy theories linked to far-right antisemitism:

“People seeking out information on the 5G controversy in Facebook groups will soon find themselves exposed to any number of alternative conspiracy theories, many only tangentially related to 5G,” researcher Gregory Davis says. “Many of these theories are implicitly or explicitly anti-Semitic, with the rollout of 5G and many other alleged crimes being laid at the feet of prominent Jewish individuals or organisations.”

https://jewishjournal.com/news/worldwide/314242/nazi-flag-found-on-australia-phone-tower/

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/anti-5g-conspiracy-theories-linked-21880414

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-13/coronavirus-racism-blamed-nazi-flag-appears-in-regional-victoria/12145166

D. Covert state-backed campaigns

Some experts have pointed to overt propaganda efforts by Russian state media to push such narratives. A recent YouTube video published by RT suggested that children playing near 5G cell towers could suffer cancer, nose bleeds and learning disabilities. Other researchers have raised the possibility of covert state-backed campaigns. None of the social media platforms have announced concrete evidence of clandestine foreign operations focused on the topic.

European law enforcement officials are being pulled off terrorism cases in order to investigate arson attacks against 5G cellphone towers. “We have also seen a great expansion into pushing this narrative by social media troublemakers and bot networks controlled by state actors such as Russia, Iran and others.”

Bloomberg also reported that the social media campaign that promotes a COVID-19/5G connection is possibly driven by a state actor or other malicious group using fake accounts and fake posts.

https://www.ft.com/content/1eeedb71-d9dc-4b13-9b45-fcb7898ae9e1

https://www.businessinsider.com/5g-coronavirus-arson-cellphone-towers-russia-iran-bots-2020-4?IR=T

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-09/covid-19-link-to-5g-technology-fueled-by-coordinated-effort

https://www.technocracy.news/how-disinformation-is-destroying-the-5g-resistance-movement/

Former Vodafone executive’ in 5G conspiracy video is UK pastor

The Guardian has revealed that the voice on the tape making the baseless claims is an evangelical pastor from Luton who recently tried to convince Zimbabweans to use cryptocurrency in their economy. 

Vodafone insiders told the Guardian that while James had worked for the company, he was hired for a sales position in 2014 at a time when 5G was not a priority for the company and was unlikely to be in his remit. They said he ultimately left Vodafone after less than a year. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/24/vodafone-exec-5g-coronavirus-conspiracy-theory-video-revealed-pastor-luton-jonathon-james?fbclid=IwAR3dXX5G9clq-xj-AeMwzKtYntkaDtq34Q13tj5ru9YEUInf0WjHryMpqVo

France: Posted on 03/20/21-One year in prison for setting fire to telecoms installations

(Auto-translated from French)

A 52-year-old man was sentenced Friday afternoon in Valence to three years’ imprisonment, two of which were suspended, for having set fire to the facilities of the operator Orange in the Drôme at the beginning of the year. The man, is a “fierce opponent” to all that is “antennas, microwave relays, radio wave emissions”… https://www.20minutes.fr/justice/3003067-20210320-drome-an-prison-incendie-installations-telecoms

Advice to administrators of facebook pages:

There are individuals that deliberately post inflammatory comments under a post, promoting the burning or damaging of towers. The aim is to get the comments reported, resulting in the removal of the facebook page. Administrators need to keep a close eye on their pages.

The post Damage to Telecommunications Infrastructure appeared first on EMFSA.

Daily Maverick

By Pieter-Louis Myburgh, 15 April 2020

A closely guarded internal Vodacom investigation has flagged a questionable partnership deal between the telecommunications giant and a Free State businessman linked to former premier Ace Magashule. Vodacom has reported the matter to the Zondo Commission and won’t divulge any details on the probe. However, Scorpio’s own months-long investigation sheds light on dealings involving the ANC’s secretary-general that could land some of Vodacom’s top current and former executives, including CEO Shameel Joosub, in hot water.

South Africa’s largest cellphone network operator gifted lucrative partnership deals to companies linked to former premier Ace Magashule in relation to voice and data contracts Vodacom scored from provincial government departments in the Free State.

Read more at: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-04-15-vodacom-in-ace-magashule-linked-free-state-contracts-scandal/

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Wednesday 27 November 2019 | 09:17 CET | News

The post US govt consults on procedures to ban risky ICT suppliers appeared first on EMFSA.

OVERVIEW

• Although half of the global population is already connected to the Internet, there is a need for greater broadband connectivity and telecommunication services in communities, rural and remote areas that are undeserved.
• High-altitude platform station (HAPS) systems can potentially be used to provide both fixed broadband connectivity for end users and transmission links between the mobile and core networks for backhauling traffic. Both types of HAPS applications would enable wireless broadband deployment in remote areas, including in mountainous, coastal and desert areas.
• In some situations, HAPS may be rapidly deployed for disaster recovery communications, particularly because the use of inter-HAPS links allows the provision of services with minimal ground network infrastructure.
• ITU Radio Regulations (RR) define HAPS as radio stations located on an object at an altitude of 20-50 kilometres and at a specified, nominal, fixed point relative to the Earth.
• Some industries are currently testing the delivery of broadband access via HAPS using lightweight, solar-powered aircraft and airships at an altitude of 20-25 kilometres operating continually for several months.
• Possible global and regionally harmonized designations for HAPS at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-19) taking place from 28 October to 22 November 2019 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, may facilitate the development of HAPS services and allow trials to move towards commercial deployments.
• HAPS contribute, in particular, to Sustainable Development Goal 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure) by allowing for greater broadband connectivity and telecommunication services, particularly in communities, rural and remote areas that are undeserved.​

CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS: BUILDING 5G NETWORKS FOR THE FUTURE

The technological innovations and the growing urgency to expand the availability of broadband led to the development of high-altitude platform station (HAPS) systems. These easily deployable stations operating in the stratosphere (layer of the Earth’s atmosphere starting at 20 kilometres) are high enough to provide service to a large area or to augment the capacity of other broadband service providers.

HAPS is not a new concept and ITU studies of HAPS began around 1996. Nevertheless, HAPS have become more viable due to the evolution of technology through advances in solar panel efficiency, battery energy density, lightweight composite materials, autonomous avionics and antennas.

Recent test deployments delivering broadband Internet access using stations approximately 20 km above ground have demonstrated their ability to provide connectivity to remote or underserved communities.

Nevertheless, HAPS systems face challenges to becoming a commercially available option to drive global broadband delivery, especially in countries with limited infrastructure.

The current ITU-R studies estimate that the total spectrum needs for HAPS systems is in the range from 396 MHz to 2 969 MHz for the ground-to-HAPS platform links and in the range from 324 MHz to 1 505 MHz for the HAPS-platform-to-ground links. These ranges include the spectrum needs to cover specific applications (e.g. disaster relief missions) and for connectivity applications (e.g. commercial broadband).

Three world radiocommunication conferences (WRC-97, WRC-2000 and WRC-12) designated spectrum for HAPS in the frequency bands 47/48 GHz, 2 GHz, 27/31 GHz and 6 GHz respectively.

The ITU-R studies on spectrum needs for HAPS demonstrate that spectrum requirements for broadband HAPS applications may not be fully accommodated within current HAPS identifications. In addition, some of the current HAPS frequency bands have geographical limitations, while common worldwide identifications for HAPS are desirable to improve and harmonize their utilization.

Therefore, additional spectrum is being considered to be identified for HAPS systems, taking into account that HAPS will need to ensure the protection of existing and future services, such as mobile and satellite services.

The revision of the regulatory provisions for HAPS may include global or regional designations for HAPS, limitations regarding link directions, and inclusion of technical conditions of operation of HAPS systems for the protection of other services. Further conditions could be imposed on the operation of HAPS, such as mandatory coordination with potentially affected countries and notification of the stations to ITU.​

Source: https://www.itu.int/en/mediacentre/backgrounders/Pages/High-altitude-platform-systems.aspx © ITU 2019 All Rights Reserved

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Kate Fazzini

More than 6,500 government officials and big players in the energy sector came together this week to conduct a simulated cyberattack on the electrical grid.

The event is called GridEx, and takes place every two years. It imagines the U.S. under attack from a foreign country, through the power grid.

The post The energy industry practices for a ‘black swan’ cyberattack that could take down the grid appeared first on EMFSA.

Epidemiol Prev. 2019 Sep-Dec;43(5-6):374-379. doi: 10.19191/EP19.5-6.P374.107.

Abstract

This paper aims to present useful elements for framing the issue of exposure to radio frequencies (RFs), in particular those related to telecommunications, and the possible effects on health also in the light of the rapid evolution of technologies (the advent of 5G). New developments in the field oblige us to reflect on the possible implications in terms of public health. Here, we have preferred to take stock and not to demand a systematic review. The development of telecommunications is creating great interest in all sectors for the possibility of new applications, but is also increasing concern for the effects on health not yet fully known, to the point that there is a growing mobilization against the introduction of 5G both at national and at international level. Epidemiological studies and metanalyses on the relationship between cancer and RFs, particularly those on mobile phones, still identify areas of uncertainty that need to be investigated, and studies on non-cancer effects are growing in number, suggesting the possibility of new risks. The relative scenarios that will open with the 5G trial are likely to change the overall exposure level of the population as a result of major changes in the network architecture. Therefore, it is important to adopt a strongly precautionary approach. Given the strong concerns of the population, the competent institutions should implement information and awareness programmes through adequate risk communication.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31659885

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