PTA permits non-commercial 5G test in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) on Tuesday has green-lighted non-commercial tests for the latest digital cellular network 5 G wireless technology in Pakistan.

The telecom authority has allowed two private mobile operators to carry out the necessary tests to check the compatibility and availability of the system, according to reports.

READ MORE: Science’s star Stephen Hawking 78th Birthday celebrations

For six months, Chinese and Dutch mobile operators working in Pakistan have been granted permission to conduct trials.

At the moment, permission is limited to non-commercial use only and does not justify any trade-off on the technology of any kind.

However, 5G has become highly controversial in many ways, with citizens ‘ associations and some experts expressing concern about the potential health impacts of radiofrequency (RF) radiation generated by 5 G base stations.

READ ALSO: Samsung sold 6.7 million 5G smartphones globally in 2019

Many 5 G critics argue that the current network is creating radiofrequency emissions that can destroy DNA and lead to cancer, inducing oxidative damage that can lead to premature aging, affecting cell metabolism, and potentially leading to other diseases through developing stress proteins.