GSMA Condemns Attacks Against Mobile Phone Masts
05 April 2020 - 3:11PM
Business Wire
Health Experts Confirm No Link Between 5G and
COVID-19
Police and counter-terrorism authorities are investigating acts
of arson against mobile phone masts in the UK. The GSMA condemns
these acts of violence designed to weaken our communications
networks in a time of crisis.
Our vision at the GSMA is to unlock the power of connectivity so
that people, industry and society thrive. We must unite in the
global fight against COVID-19 and combat the fake news and violent
actions linking 5G communications technology to the spread of the
virus. This disinformation campaign is inciting fear, aggression,
and vandalism against the critical infrastructure and essential
maintenance workers who are keeping our public services connected,
as well as our economy running.
England’s National Medical Director Stephen Powis has been
widely reported in the media as saying, “The 5G story is complete
and utter rubbish, it’s nonsense, it’s the worst kind of fake
news.”
The GSMA calls on internet giants, content providers and social
media platforms to accelerate their efforts to remove fake news
linking 5G to the spread of COVID-19. Full Fact, the UK’s
independent fact-checking charity has confirmed that there is no
link between 5G and COVID-19. We also urge governments around the
world to take swift action against disinformation, vandalism and
threats against mobile network field engineers.
“The telecoms industry is working around the clock to keep vital
health, education and emergency services online, businesses
running, and friends and families connected,” said Mats Granryd,
Director General of the GSMA, the global communications industry
body. “It is deplorable that critical communications infrastructure
is being attacked based on outright mistruths. We urge everyone to
trust health authorities and rest assured communications technology
is safe. There is no link between 5G and COVID-19.”
Last month, an independent international watchdog confirmed
there is no risk of harm to people, including children, from
exposure to radio frequencies from mobile networks, including 5G.
In its findings, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing
Radiation Protection reviewed 20 additional years of research and
echoed previous reassurances from the World Health Organization.
More information is available at
https://www.icnirp.org/cms/upload/presentations/ICNIRP_Media_Release_110320.pdf
-ENDS-
About the GSMA
The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide,
uniting more than 750 operators and nearly 400 companies in the
broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers,
software companies, equipment providers and internet companies, as
well as organisations in adjacent industry sectors. The GSMA also
produces the industry-leading MWC events held annually in
Barcelona, Los Angeles and Shanghai, as well as the Mobile 360
Series of regional conferences.
For more information, please visit the GSMA corporate website at
www.gsma.com. Follow the GSMA on Twitter: @GSMA.
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Media Contacts: For the GSMA GSMA Press Office
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Director M +44 79 7679 0169 E
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