This is a full version of NEA’s reply issued to the media agency; published in The Straits Times, 15 Jul 2019.
Title: Government will ensure 5G is safe
We thank Mr Seah for his letter dated 8 July (“Look into 5G’s impact on health”).
In Singapore, Radio Frequency (RF) radiation currently emitted from mobile antennas is very low, typically well below 0.7% of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP)’s guidelines.
ICNIRP is an independent international organisation recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Its safety guidelines on public exposure to RF radiation are widely accepted by many countries. The WHO has also found no convincing scientific evidence of adverse health effects from very low RF exposures to populations or individuals.
With 5G services, Singapore will continue to take guidance from ICNIRP guidelines. These guidelines are also adopted by countries like Australia, Germany, Norway, South Korea, and Sweden, some of which have already rolled out 5G services.
That said, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and National Environment Agency (NEA) will continue to closely monitor developments and consult health experts as appropriate.
IMDA is committed to ensuring that Singaporeans will have high quality mobile services that are safe and secure.
Ms Karen Low
Cluster Director, Communications & Marketing
Infocomm Media Development Authority
Er Koh Kim Hock (Note: please note that ‘Er’ is the salutation for professional engineer)
Senior Director, Radiation Protection and Nuclear Science Department
National Environment Agency