Spark recently transitioned to a commercial 5G service, which is available in selected areas of Alexandra; the same as the service Spark has launched in parts of Westport, Clyde, Twizel, Tekapo, and Hokitika at the end of November. Vodafone has also recently launched 5G in Queenstown. 

When launching 5G into the five heartland towns in November, Mark Beder, technology director at Spark, said that the focus is on getting the rest of New Zealand ready for 5G. “With our new commercial 5G wireless broadband service, we are offering Kiwis in regional New Zealand towns the chance to be some of the first people to discover 5G with Spark,” he said.

“Wireless broadband is one of the first-use cases for 5G, and we've chosen to deliver it to several towns in heartland New Zealand who are all high users of our current wireless broadband product as we think these customers will get the most benefit. We are delighted to now be able to offer 5G wireless broadband to customers in Alexandra,” concluded Beder. 

Despite Beder’s optimism, some locals are concerned about the possible health consequences from exposure to 5G. Arwen Vant, a spokesperson by Spark told the Wānaka Sun, “We work to the standards set by the New Zealand Ministry of Health.” 

“Exposure levels from Sparks cell towers are typically only a small fraction of the levels considered safe. These levels are set by independent bodies based on decades of scientific research  is correct — as it refers to the Ministry of Health standards,” he continued. 

“The Ministry of Health factsheet, 5G and Health… includes an important statement; 5G is simply a new application of radio technology. Existing research on the possible health effects of radiofrequency (RF) fields applies as much to 5G as to any other radio system in use. 5G transmitters are covered by the New Zealand RF field exposure standard, and 5G cell sites will have to comply with Resource Management Act (RMA) 1991 rules about cell sites. These rules include compliance with the exposure standard,” concluded Vant. 

However, those standards are not set in stone and can be changed when credible research comes to light. Martin Gledhill, Director, EMF Services, commented, “Any new research has to be assessed both on its own merits, and also in the context of the large amount of previous research that has been carried out. To change the safety standards, you would need well-conducted studies from independent research groups that provide consistent results showing an effect occurring at levels below those currently allowed. Preferably you would also have some idea of the mechanism underlying the effect.”

Despite facebook groups of concerned locals decrying the technology as dangerous, the problem isn’t that 5G has been proven dangerous, but rather there has been no research to prove anything. The newness of the technology means it hasn’t undergone the vigours of time; it is the absence of research, rather than the results of research that brings 5G into question.