A store in Tokyo selling smartphones that support 5G technology (illustration).

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Takehiko Suzuki / AP / SIPA

While the first auctions were launched on September 29, the sling of local elected officials against the new generation of mobile networks is not weakening.

The Lille city council thus adopted on the night of Friday to Saturday a moratorium on the deployment of 5G.

The motion plans to suspend, on the territory of the municipality, "any authorization for the installation or ignition of" test "antennas" until the publication in spring 2021 of a report from the National Security Agency. sanitary.

Because our doubts persist both from a health point of view and digital sobriety on the deployment of 5G, we voted at the Municipal Council of @lillefrance tonight for a moratorium.

It is urgent to wait!

pic.twitter.com/DWAnwtOQsb

- Martine Aubry (@MartineAubry) October 9, 2020

Still "gray areas"

“Because our doubts persist both from a health point of view and digital sobriety on the deployment of 5G, we voted (…) a moratorium.

It is urgent to wait!

», Declared the mayor of Lille Martine Aubry.

"Before being able to say that 5G certainly represents progress for our cities and their inhabitants, it seems to us that several gray areas (...) must still be clarified", explain the elected officials in the motion, presented by the majority municipal, the Lille group in common.

"The official reports published in recent months (...) still do not allow the most competent authorities to exclude any real risk to populations in connection with exposure to this new technology", they argue.

Elected officials also wonder about "the high level of induced investments", in the "difficult financial context" linked to the Covid-19 epidemic, or even on the "real usefulness" of this technology which will constrain individuals and professionals "To renew their electronic products despite any consideration related to their durability."

Warning by @LEBASNicolas against the tyranny of the precautionary principle on # 5G, which will be deployed in the service of new industrial technologies while preserving public health.

We are voting against the moratorium, which gives up attractiveness and sustainable development!

pic.twitter.com/23kVaZKH9I

- Violette Spillebout (@VSpillebout) October 9, 2020

However, the entire municipal council did not validate this motion.

“The majority hide behind fears and criticize the government by gesticulating rather than arguing and listening to our scientists from Lille.

A moratorium of posture, without legal effect ”, tweeted in particular one of the main opponents of Martine Aubry in the city council, Violette Spillebout (ex-LREM candidate for mayor).

She wants proof that the town hall has already issued "20 opinions unfavorable to the transition of antennas from 4G to 5G last year", which have remained ineffective because only advisory.

The competence of the cities in question

In 2011, the Council of State had established that a municipality does not have the competence to "generally regulate the installation of mobile telephony relay antennas".

This power is reserved for national authorities.

"The precautionary principle does not allow a public authority to exceed its field of competence", also affirmed the administrative judge.

However, the government and the main French operator Orange have given pledges in recent months, ensuring that they would take into account local reluctance.

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  • 5G

  • New technologies

  • Lille