Needless controversy on 5G
In the wake of the raging coronavirus pandemic, the issue of the novel 5G telecommunication network has assumed greater traction in Nigeria and worldwide. 5G is a technical term that stands for fifth generation, which is a set of standards that are used in mobile telecommunications development. The earliest standard was 1G which was used […]
In the wake of the raging coronavirus pandemic, the issue of the novel 5G telecommunication network has assumed greater traction in Nigeria and worldwide.
5G is a technical term that stands for fifth generation, which is a set of standards that are used in mobile telecommunications development. The earliest standard was 1G which was used in analogue communication. Then came the 2G, first launched in Finland which was an upgrade of 1G and which helped launch the digital communications network enabling the birth of the Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) as we know it today. 2G made possible voice, text, data and internet access. The 3G which came thereafter improved speed and connectivity of telecommunications. The 4G which is currently in use in most parts of the world including Nigeria was a further improvement on 3G with even faster access and connectivity.
The 5G which is now the subject of much discussion all over the world promises to put all the previous ones to shade in terms of its capacity. To start with, its speed in access and connectivity is estimated to be ten times faster than the nearest to it, 4G. But the most revolutionary features of the 5G are in the way it promises to change our lives as humans. With 5G we could virtually set up most aspect of our day to day lives using the speed, coverage and penetration of the network. Its capacity to handle data and process information is unprecedented. With the 5G network, we could for instance using digital identification dispense with the use of mobile phones in our banking transactions, shopping, medical examination and record, travel arrangements, identification at designated points, driving, home and outdoor entertainments and so on. At the macro level, 5G network also enables a country to plan effectively through the processing of data on population, resource availability and allocation for national development.
It is little wonder then that countries around the world are keying into the network for their development needs. China was the first to launch it on November 1, 2019 through its giant telecommunications company, Huawei and since then a host of countries in Asia and Europe have followed suit.
Like all new and revolutionary innovations however, 5G is not without its drawbacks. In this regard, the major issue has to do with the powerful concentration of radioactive emissions from the 5G network satellites. The speed, concentration and penetration of radioactive rays from the 5G satellites can cause severe harm to humans as well as the environment and buildings. The greater danger however comes from the microchip, which will be inserted in individuals to enable the activation of digital identity required under the 5G. It is feared that the radiation effect will harm the body, degrade the immune system and cause all kinds of ailments.
It is these that the naysayers are latching unto denounce the introduction of the 5G. This has also given rise to a whole school of conspiracy theories which purport to link the 5G to a so-called mark of the beast, which signals the coming of the end of the world as some would want us to believe.
It is perhaps a coincidence that the outbreak of the coronavirus came shortly after the launch of the 5G in China. It is also instructive that the city of Wuhan where the 5G was launched happened to be where the first case of the coronavirus was identified. This has again provided further ammunition to link the pandemic to the 5G and to attach all sorts of unscientific explanations to it.
With the controversies swirling around the 5G and the yet undetermined nature of its likely effect, the best option for technologically deficient countries like Nigeria is to keenly study developments on the issue and how they pan out before taking any definitive steps. This is why we commend the Minister of Communications, Dr. Pantami for coming out to state categorically that Nigeria has not taken a decision on implementing the 5G contrary to widespread rumours. As the issues raised on the 5G cuts across the facets of our lives we further recommend that a team drawn from communication, medical, social behaviour, security and other related areas be set up to study the implementation of the 5G in other countries and the lessons to be learnt. And in the meantime, there should be public enlightenment to educate Nigerians on the issue so as to dispel any misconceptions.
Technological developments do necessarily come with consequences, which we have to take into account. In this regard, the 5G is no different and we believe that while it may come with challenges, it will certainly not be beyond experts to find workable solutions to them.