Negative use of the power of social media has been blamed over the amplification of porous claims by uninformed individuals who said that Fifth Generation (5G) Mobile Networks have links to Coronavirus.

This was the position of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) at the webinar tagged ‘2020 Digital Rights Series on Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable’ hosted by ITREALMS in collaboration with DigitalSENSE Africa Media on Saturday, with the theme: ‘Role of IP in 5G v COVID-19 Debate.’

ALTON Chairman, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, made the position of the association in his paper titled: ‘5G Versus Coronavirus: Reality or Fiction.’

Adebayo who was represented by the Head of Operations at ALTON, Mr. Gbolahan Owonuga, said that the supposed 5G Coronavirus connection came from ignorant people on the Internet trying to link things that were not at all connected.

“Unfortunately, the power of social media has only amplified some of these misguided comments,” he said.

He quoted experts at the World Health Organization (WHO) as saying that there is no dispute that animals are the source of COVID-19.

“Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are transmitted between animals and people. Detailed investigations found that SARS-CoV was transmitted from civet cats to humans,” he buttressed.

On the safety of 5G technologies, ALTON maintained that the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) recently published its updated guidelines to provide improved protection for higher frequency ranges.

Also, ALTON chief said that the new guidelines stipulated among others that time and body exposure restrictions, provide protection against all adverse health effects from exposure to electromagnetic frequencies, including for frequencies above 6 GHz, such as those emitted by 5G and future technologies.

“Compliance with these new guidelines ensures the safe use of 5G,” he said, stressing that “ICNIRP Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (100 kHz to 300 GHz).”

ALTON also noted that though 5G has been a cause for concern over the increased deployment of towers it will require, radio signals for 5G technology are similar to those already generated by 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi networks.

“By using small cells, or low-power, low-range transmissions, 5G smart antennas send signals where required. These cells enable localised use of signals while increasing coverage and efficiency,” ALTON insisted.

Welcoming participants earlier, the Executive Director, Operations, DigitalSENSE Africa Media, Mrs. Nkem Nweke, said that the webinar in collaboration with ITREALMS became imperative to join the world in the commemoration of World IPv6 Day despite the Coronavirus pandemic.

“This webinar today, is in commemoration of the World IPv6 Day, 2020, as part of our DigitalSENSE drive for education and enlightenment under the partnership of ITREALMS digital rights series,” she said.

Mrs. Nweke recalled that since year 2011, following depletion of the Internet Protocol version Four (IPv4), DigitalSENSE Africa, has led efforts under the aegis of the Nigeria IPv6 Roundtable in commemoration of the World Internet Protocol Version Six (IPv6) Day, every June 6 “to promote the adoption of IPv6 for the products and services as well as create awareness, especially in Nigeria, with core determination that we cannot wait to continuously play leapfrogging on technologies and positive usage too for a better society,” she said.

She commended ALTON and Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria (IXPN) for their support and collaboration, urged for more alliance with stakeholders, saying her office is open for partnership in favour of engendering industry growth.