Residents in Brisbane, Australia were surprised by the sight of a shopping cart flattened by falling cell tower equipment. Yahoo News Australia reports that locals referred to the equipment as a “100+ kg monstrosity,” translating to roughly 220 pounds of plummeting gear. Fortunately no injuries were reported, and Telstra has already been dispatched to investigate the scene of the incident.
“We’re aware that a 5G small cell in [the] West End [section of Brisbane] was damaged earlier this morning,” stated a Telstra spokesperson. “Our technicians have been on-site to ensure the area is safe and the equipment removed. We are investigating how the incident occurred.” She added that “customers in the area shouldn’t experience any impact to coverage.”
Telstra has not yet commented on what caused the equipment to fall, but Yahoo News Australia pointed to a truck hitting the pole as the likely culprit.
Small cell poles have arisen all over Australia, generating the usual mix of those who welcome the digital connectivity versus those who question the safety of 5G transmissions. Telstra’s website declares that the company has completed “extensive EME [electromagnetic energy] testing on our 5G and have found the EME levels to be similar to 3G, 4G and WiFi. The EME levels measured were found to be well below the safety limits, and in many cases, over a thousand times lower. We continually monitor our network and the ACMA conducts EME compliance audits.”
Despite the reassurances, some people continue to view 5G with suspicion. One anonymous person posted disbelief in Yahoo News Australia’s errant truck theory, sharing thoughts that the 5G equipment “certainly didn’t fall on its own; somebody did this.” A like minded person agreed, noting, “West End residents aren’t all completely satisfied with the roll out of 5G. I do find it hard to believe this was a simple fall.”
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