Opposition MP Godfrey Farrugia called for more consultation on 5G technologies before their introduction into the Maltese digital economy but his warnings of a possible negative health impact were downplayed by Parliamentary Secretary Silvio Schembri who said that 3G technology was even less carcinogenic than “grapefruit juice”.

Dr Farrugia argued in Parliament in the context of amendments to the Malta Communications Authority Act that it had become an ‘indisputable fact’ that cellular radiation was harmful to human health, stating that even 3G radiation had been proven to be carcinogenic as was recognised by the World Health Organisation.

Denying the health risks of this radiation was similar to naysaying about the carcinogenic effects of cigarettes, he said, pointing out that 5G had even higher intensity.

Dr Farrugia clarified that he was “in favour of progress,” but said every caution should be taken in the deployment of new technologies. He pointed out that no permit had been issued for experiments on 5G bandwidths or for the commercial deployment of 5G.

5G antennas would be much smaller than 4G antennas - as well as being deployed more widely - making them harder to avoid for those who did not wish to live in close proximity.

However, although he agreed with the need for consultation on the social and lifestyle changes that the connectivity promised by 5G technologies would offer, Digital Economy Parliamentary Secretary Silvio Schembri disagreed with what he called “alarmism” about the health risks of such technologies.

He pointed out that the carcinogenicity of 3G was ranked similarly to that of processed food, and less than the risks of “grapefruit juice”.