5G studies (FOI)

​Request

A

What studies have been done in Jersey as to the safety of 5G mobile telephones, or what studies elsewhere have been considered by any Minister?

B

How many base stations will be required to cover the Island?

C

Will all the base stations serve all three telecommunications companies? If not, how many will be single company units?

D

What revenue will the States receive from the licences for 5G?

E

Will the Minister for planning require a health and safety study for 5G before approving any sites?

F

Are any experimental 5G base sites already running?

G

Does the Minister for health intend to undertake any public enquiry into the health aspects of a high microwave service such as 5G, and has he already sought any advice over 5G?

Response

A

The Government of Jersey has not undertaken any studies and no information is held.

The Channel Islands Competition and Regulation Authority (CICRA) regularly monitors radio wave emissions from the cellular masts in the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey to ensure the mobile network operators, who operate their services from those masts, comply with their license obligations in terms of power levels; and that the emissions from the sites comply with internationally recognised standards and guidelines regarding Health and Safety limits for the public.

CICRA’s reports are published on their website and can be viewed at:

CICRA reports (Mast Audit).pdf

Government of Jersey officers will continue to monitor advice and guidelines published by UK and international agencies including the World Health Organisation and International Committee on Non Ionising Radiation Protection.

B

The number of base stations required to provide 5G services across the Island has not been confirmed. It will depend on the capability of technology and equipment to be deployed, the form of services to be provided and the form of network that will be deployed ie whether there is a single network shared by all operators or three separate networks.

C

The form of network or networks that will be deployed on Jersey has not been agreed by operators. There is therefore no clarity as to whether there will be a single network shared by all operators or three separate networks.

D

The Government of Jersey receives no direct revenue from licences for commercial 5G services.

E

There is no current Ministerial requirement for a health and safety study before granting planning permission for a 5G site. The Minister for Health and Community Services is a Statutory Consultee in all Planning matters.

F

Telecoms operators in Jersey have announced plans to start testing 5G services in 2019 and to begin providing commercial services in 2020. The Government of Jersey has no information as to whether 5G base stations are currently being tested in Jersey.

Commercial 5G operations will require licensing by CICRA. CICRA published a consultation about the licensing of 5G services on 3 May 2019.

Commercial 5G operations will require spectrum allocation by Ofcom, the UK’s Communications regulator. Ofcom allocate spectrum on behalf of the Channel Islands.

Ofcom grants innovation licences and test spectrum for 5G in the Channel Islands:

CICRA News Release - 23 August 2018.pdf

G

The Minister for Health and Community Services does not intend, at this time, to undertake a public enquiry. As referred to in the response for question E, the Minister is a Statutory Consultee in all Planning matters and will therefore be made aware when applications are received. The Minister has not sought advice over 5G. However, through Officers, he continues to follow the peer-assessed research carried out globally, and advice from such organisations as the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.