The 5G Dilemma

The pandemic has opened a fresh debate around the future of 5G in india. Infrastructure requirements could further delay its launch

- Manu Kaushik

There are still believers of the flat earth theory,” says S.P. Kochhar, director-General, cellular operators association of India (coal), a lobbying body representing Indian telecom operators. “The doubting community will always be there. It’s not black and white. Enough studies have been done already,” he says on the issue of fresh concerns over possible links between 5G technology and the spread of coronavirus.

Over the past couple of months, telcos and the department of Telecommunications (DOT) officials have been fighting a perception battle against a group of people who believe that 5G could harm humans. Last month, telecom towers in certain parts of Haryana and Punjab were vandalised and doT issued an official statement to allay concerns. “It has come to the notice of the doT that several misleading messages are being circulated on various social media platforms claiming the second wave of coronavirus has been caused by the testing of 5G mobile towers...these messages are false and absolutely not correct...the general public is hereby informed that there is no link between 5G technology and spread of covid-19...moreover, it is informed that testing of the 5G network has not yet started anywhere in India,” according to the statement.

The anti-5G lobby got greater prominence when Bollywood actor Juhi Chawla recently filed a petition in the Delhi high court against the roll-out of 5G in the country. Though the court dismissed her petition and fined her ₹20 lakh for “abusing the process of law”, the matter is unlikely to die down soon. Why?