Key points:
- Small cell boxes will become commonplace as the 5G rollout gathers pace
- The boxes do not require planning approval under Federal law
- Residents in Sydney have raised health and security concerns over the technology
In a move that experts say will become more common as Australia prepares itself for the 5G rollout, TPG, in conjunction with China’s Huawei, has begun placing the transmitters — roughly the size of two shoe boxes — on power poles across the suburb of Ryde, in Sydney’s north-west.
The small cell boxes are used for 4G and mobile services in suburban areas, and are less powerful than the larger telecommunication towers generally used by companies such as Optus and Telstra.
However, unlike the larger towers that generally require council or planning approval, the small cell boxes can be placed on power poles without any approval process under the Federal telecommunications act.
Residents also have no say in the matter.
In Ryde, TPG has plans to place 35 of the Huawei-made small cell boxes around the suburb as the company accelerates its push to build its own mobile network.
For Ryde residents John and Sue Cappadonna, a bit of paper on a power pole outside their home was the only notice they received.
The couple have health and security concerns over the small cell boxes, and have pushed their local council to intervene.
“We really don’t want this infrastructure right in front of our home here,” Mr Cappadonna said.
“I didn’t realise you could build that kind of contraption in a residential area.”
Ryde Mayor Jerome Laxale said it was a bitter pill to swallow.
“Under the telecommunications act it’s basically open-slather for these companies to install these small cell devices in the suburbs,” he said.
“I was surprised. It is council-owned land, the property of residents in Ryde and we ultimately have no say.
“It is a notification process, rather than a consultation process.”
No different to large antennae
Monash University Occupational and Environmental Health Geza Benke said although the “perception of risk” differed from person to person, from his perspective, residents living near small cell boxes had nothing to worry about.
“The exposure which people get from these antenna is no more than you would get from a large antenna,” Dr Benke said.
“They’re operating at the same frequencies.”
He said over the next two years the small cell boxes would become commonplace, as they are considered a critical component of “filling in the gaps” for the high-speed 5G network.
Huawei, which is building the small cell boxes on the 4G network for TPG, is banned from taking part in the rollout of 5G mobile infrastructure over national security concerns.
A spokesperson for Communications Minister Mitch Fifield said they would need to be notified about any proposed changes to any telecommunication company networks and services that may have national security implications.
Australian National University Cyber Institute chief Lesley Seebeck said there were still questions that needed to be asked over the rollout of any new technology.
“With regard to security, we have to understand it is not merely a technical issue, it is more than that,” Dr Seebeck said.
“It is a social issue and a political issue.
“And the fundamental question that’s being asked is can we trust these devices? And trust the technology? And what are the security provisions being put in place?”
The ABC contacted TPG for comment. TPG has prepared a fact sheet on the issue, which addresses a number of concerns raised by the residents.
Yet for John and Sue Cappadonna — and the more than 100 residents who have signed a petition to get the small cell boxes removed from the residential area — the answer is simple.
“We don’t want it here,” Ms Cappadonna said. “It causes us great anxiety that this thing is going to be running 24-7.”
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-01-07/huawei-small-cell-network-comes-to-sydney/10688124
