VimpelCom (Beeline brand) chooses the location of the base station, based on the requests of residents to improve the quality of communication in a particular settlement. A representative of the cellular operator told RBC about this, commenting on reports of protests in the North Caucasus over the construction of 5G towers.
“We meet the wishes of subscribers interested in increasing the speed of mobile Internet and comfortable use of online services. During the construction of new base stations, we obtain all the necessary permits, and the equipment installed on them also undergoes mandatory certification, ”he said.
The representative of VimpelCom recalled that 5G from the point of view of the safety of the transmitted signal is no different from other communication standards (3G, 4G) and that there are many studies in the public domain that refute hypotheses about the dangers of 5G.
He added that none of the telecom operators in Russia have 5G networks launched into permanent commercial operation.
A MegaFon spokesman declined to comment.
T2 RTK Holding (Tele2 brand) told RBC that the company does not work in the regions of the North Caucasus, but recognized the urgency of the problem of radiophobia. “This is due to the acceleration in the pace and volume of construction against the background of large-scale digitalization. As a result, people began to pay more attention to antenna mast structures and base stations being built in the vicinity of residential buildings, ”the company explained.
A new wave of speculation about the destructive impact of 5G on human health was caused by the active exploitation of pilot 5G zones by cellular operators since 2019 and the low level of knowledge of the population about the technology, the representative of T2 RTK Holding explained.
He also noted that the mobile operator is working with contractors to prevent conflict situations during the construction of new antenna mast structures and the installation of base stations: “If it is obvious that the site is potentially risky and could provoke a wave of indignation among local residents, we try to find new position for construction “.
Earlier, the publication “Kavkaz.Realii” (recognized by a media-foreign agent) reported that in 2020 the residents of North Ossetia set fire to cell towers twice, and in Dagestan, Karachay-Cherkessia, Stavropol Territory and in the Kuban rallies were held against their installation.
In May 2020, residents of North Ossetia burned down a cellular antenna near the village of Nogir. The head of the region, Vyacheslav Bitarov, explained that this was done by people who do not believe in the existence of the COVID-19 pandemic and believe that it was organized “by some world forces that are interested in driving people <...> to the reservation, to their homes, then install 5G antennas, irradiate them so that they lose consciousness, then they will chip. ”
