The Swiss voice in the world since 1935
Top stories
Stay in touch with Switzerland

5G is not harmful to health, says government report

Engineer climbing an antenna
High risk? An engineer installing a 5G antenna in canton Geneva in 2019 © Keystone / Martial Trezzini

In a significant step for the deployment of 5G in Switzerland a federal study has found for the first time that the technology does not have negative health consequences. The radiation from the phones will remain moderate, it says.

The values measured are well below the limit values that are decisive for health effects, according to the reportExternal link produced for the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. They are even lower than when the previous measurements were taken eight years ago. This is due in part to the development of new, less harmful antennas, it says.

However, opponents are not convinced. “This report is not realistic because it doesn’t take into account the changes that were made at the legal level for the new 5G antennas that weren’t operating at full capacity at the time of the measurements,” Olivier Bodenmann, founder of the STOP 5G collective, told Swiss public television, RTSExternal link, on Wednesday.

“What’s more, there were no measurements in schools, few measurements in private spaces and the measurements in public transport were taken outside peak hours.”

In Switzerland more than 3,000 objections at cantonal and municipal level are blocking the rollout of the 5G network.

More
Workers on a 5G antennae

More

Swiss remain divided over 5G rollout

This content was published on Swiss opinion over the expansion of the 5G telecommunications network is still split down the middle, according to a survey.

Read more: Swiss remain divided over 5G rollout

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

The federal government is working on a new Swiss identity card with a chip

More

New Swiss biometric ID card planned for 2026

This content was published on A biometric Swiss identity card (ID) is expected to be available in Switzerland by the end of 2026. The Federal Office of Police and its federal and cantonal partners are working on a new ID card that features a chip.

Read more: New Swiss biometric ID card planned for 2026
Opportunities for social mobility remain high in Switzerland

More

Swiss continue to enjoy high social mobility, study shows

This content was published on Opportunities for upward social mobility have remained intact in Switzerland since the 1980s. Social mobility is exceptionally high by international comparison, a study shows.

Read more: Swiss continue to enjoy high social mobility, study shows
UBS launches another billion share buyback programme

More

UBS launches buyback scheme for up to $2 billion in shares

This content was published on UBS is starting a share buyback programme for up to $2 billion (CHF1.6 billion) in shares, in line with a plan approved at its annual general meeting (AGM) in April, the Swiss bank said on Monday.

Read more: UBS launches buyback scheme for up to $2 billion in shares

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!

If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR