Airtel on aggressive expansion, launches new 5G-ready platform
The telecom and the related infrastructure industry have come together to refute rumours that 5G connectivity is causing the second wave of Covid-19. Industry bodies have cautioned the public against falling prey to such misinformation.
In a joint statement on Friday, the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and the Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association (TAIPA) expressed their concern regarding false rumours connecting 5G technology with the spread of Covid-19.
The industry bodies said that they have come across multiple messages on social media platforms as well as reports in a few regional media allegedly claiming 5G spectrum trials as the probable cause of rising cases of Covid-19.
Audio message blaming 5G trials behind surge in COVID-19 cases in India is fake
An audio message claiming that the 5G testing is the reason behind the sudden surge in COVID cases in India has been doing the rounds.
Ankita Chakravarti | May 8, 2021 | Updated 17:25 IST
Reuters
Highlights
The Press Information Bureau has recently busted a conspiracy theory that was being spread about the second wave of COVID-19.
In the message, a man can be heard saying that because of 5G testing people are dying in states like UP, Maharashtra.
The COAI has cautioned users about the same and urged them to not believe in any such rumours.
Telecom companies body forced to dispel rumours linking COVID-19 to 5G trials
COAI also pointed out that there were no 5G trials going on in the country and no 5G towers have been installed as yet.
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| A+A A- By Express News Service
NEW DELHI: The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), an industry association representing India’s private telecom services providers such as Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, and Vodafone Idea, has been forced to put out a clarification that the recently approved 5G trials are not linked in any way to the sharp rise in COVID-19 infections after rumours linking the two gained mileage in certain areas.
PIB fact check: Radiation released by 5G testing NOT related to second wave of COVID-19 outbreak
An audio message is going viral on social media claiming 5G testing has caused multiple deaths in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra. (Image Source: Reuters)
Updated: May 8, 2021, 01:52 PM IST
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) has conducted a fact check and busted fake news claiming that the radiation being released by 5G testing has led to the outbreak of the second wave of COVID-19 in India. In an audio message, it is being claimed that 5G network is being tested in the states, due to which people are dying. This claim is fake. Please do not spread confusion by sharing such fake messages, PIB said in a tweet.
The COAI’s strong views come after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) earlier this week cleared the much-delayed 5G trials, allowing Airtel, Jio and Vi’s applications that seek to partner non-Chinese gear vendors to work on developing use cases relevant for India on the next-gen fast wireless broadband technology. Trials will initially be for six months. Telcos are being given experimental airwaves in the mid-band (3.2-3.67 Ghz), 800 Mhz, in the millimetre wave (26-28 Ghz) and the 700 Mhz bands for these trials.
Kochhar said several countries have already rolled out 5G networks and people are using these services safely, and that even the World Health Organisation (WHO) had clarified that there is no correlation between 5G technology and Covid-19.