China is a global leader in 5G technology, with a large number of base stations, high speeds, and widespread applications. The application of the technology has seeped into all industries, but one of the concerns has been that the Chinese government is using the technology to spy on its own citizens and those of other countries. As a result, countries, such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, have declared that the use of certain telecommunications equipment, particularly in 5G networks, poses “significant security risks.”
China currently uses 5G technology in “smart street lights,” which function as integrated poles. These lights are sometimes combined with additional features like cameras, air pollution monitors, and 5G signal hubs, which allow for enhanced data collection and real-time communication.
Other countries have been rolling out 5G smart street lamps to increase connectivity. In the UK, a two-year project was launched in 2021 to use CCTV poles, traffic signals, and other roadside infrastructure, like street lights, to host a 5G radio kit. Mobile network operators were given access to lampposts, bus shelters, and other street furniture to speed up the rollout of the next-generation, ultra-fast 5G technology. According to the UK edition of The Independent, instead of relying on telecoms providers – who find it time-consuming to review the suitability of CCTV poles and road signs for network equipment – the government was planning to attach antennas to public buildings, traffic lights, and signs.
“Street furniture and buildings can be used to host 5G network equipment more cheaply, quickly, and with less visual impact compared with traditional phone masts. However, network operators often find it difficult to acquire the information needed to verify that a structure is suitable, such as its location, physical dimensions, proximity to the street, or access to a power source,” the UK’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport stated in a press release.
The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) had issued a media release in April 2020 denying any deployment of 5G in Jamaica. The regulatory body issued the release after rumours began circulating that there was a possible link between 5G technology and the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
