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JOHANNESBURG: Tens of thousands of South Africans have written complaints to the government over a new policy that would let mobile networks build cellphone infrastructure like 5G towers<\/a> on private land, which they say could devalue their property.
Since communications minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams gazetted the policy last week, dissent has poured in through the website Dear South Africa, which collects online submissions to challenge or co-form policies before they become law.
\"There are concerns about radiation, about the resale value of properties and about this being used as an excuse to expropriate land without compensation,\" the group's founder, Rob Hutchinson, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation over the phone.
South Africa is one of the most unequal countries in the world, according to the World Bank<\/a>.
These divides are seen along digital lines, too, with a study by the Research ICT Africa think tank showing only 11% of households have broadband internet access - hampering access to online education, among other services.
The government's proposal says network operators \"have the right to enter upon and use public and private land\", citing the need for \"high speed, high quality networks\" to ensure that \"rural areas do not lag behind\".
But critics worry this is a ruse to exploit private property owners.
\"This policy proposes that network operators can erect infrastructure on private land, and property owners cannot charge an access fee and are liable for any damage to the infrastructure,\" said Hutchinson.
According to the draft policy, owners can charge a \"reasonable\" access fee if the network operator makes any intrusive changes to their land but are liable for any damage they cause to communications facilities.
Damage to property caused by the network provider must be repaired by the company and the property owner is entitled to reasonable compensation, the policy said.
The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies was not immediately available for comment.
MTN Group , Africa's largest mobile network operator by subscribers, welcomed the rapid rollout of cellphone infrastructure.
\"This lag in providing services does little to enable a digital environment for all,\" said Jacqui O'Sullivan, the company's executive for corporate affairs in South Africa, stressing that the policy is still in the draft phase.
\"The draft document is open to comment by all interested parties, including MTN, ensuring that the final document is a robust and balanced document that addresses the concerns of all parties,\" O'Sullivan said over WhatsApp<\/a>.
More than 42,000 submissions were collated through the Dear South Africa site from across all nine provinces in the country, detailing concerns over the public's right to privacy, property ownership and a healthy and safe environment.
\"Private property is owned by us private individuals, therefore I refuse to be bullied by the govt to erect infrastructure at no cost on my property,\" wrote a resident whose name was anonymised by the platform.
\"Private property is private (bought and paid for). The health risks are unknown. No thank you,\" wrote another.
O'Sullivan at MTN said 5G<\/a> is safer than people think.
\"While there are allegations that 5G is already causing health problems, including the novel coronavirus<\/a>, there is absolutely no scientific evidence to support this,\" she said.
Hutchinson said giving residents the chance to air their complaints now could help them avoid the \"expensive and lengthy process\" or protecting their property rights later.
\"Raising your concerns through an official channel provides a legal opportunity to shape policy before implementation,\" he said.
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南非约翰内斯堡:成千上万的书面投诉政府新政策,会让手机移动网络建设基础设施5克塔在私有土地上,他们说可以贬低他们的财产。
因为通讯部长Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams上周公布政策,异议倒在通过网站亲爱的南非,它收集在线提交挑战或co-form政策才能成为法律。
“人们担心辐射,转售价值的属性和对这个被用作借口没收土地无偿,”该集团的创始人,罗伯·哈钦森,汤森路透基金会通过电话。
南非是世界上最不平等的国家之一,据世界银行。
这些分歧看到数字沿线,与非洲ICT研究智库的一项研究显示,只有11%的家庭宽带上网,阻碍访问在线教育,以及其他服务。
政府的提议说网络运营商“有权进入和使用公共和私人土地”,引用需要“高速度、高品质网络”,以确保“农村不落后”。
但批评人士担心这是一个诡计利用私人业主。
“这政策提出,网络运营商可以在私有土地上建造基础设施,和业主不能收取访问费用和任何损害负责基础设施,”哈钦森说。
根据政策草案,所有者可以收取“合理的”访问费用,如果网络运营商使得任何侵入性的改变他们的土地,但他们造成的损害负责通讯设施。
财产损失引起的网络提供商必须修理公司,业主有权合理补偿,政策说。
通信和数字技术部门没有立即对此事发表评论。
MTN集团,非洲最大的移动网络运营商用户,欢迎的快速推出手机基础设施。
“这延迟提供服务没有启用数字环境中,“雅基·奥沙利文说,该公司负责公司事务的执行在南非,强调政策仍在草案阶段。
“草案由感兴趣的各方开放评论,包括MTN,确保最终的文档是一个健壮的和平衡的文档,解决各方关切,”O ' sullivan说WhatsApp。
超过42000的提交被整理通过亲爱的南非网站所有9个省,详述担忧公众的隐私权,财产所有权和一个健康和安全的环境。
“私有财产属于我们个人,所以我拒绝被欺负的政府建立基础设施免费我的财产,”写了一本名叫居民匿名的平台。
“私有财产是私人的(购买和支付)。的健康风险是未知的。没有谢谢你,”另一位写道。
MTN的O ' sullivan表示5克比人们想象的更安全。
“虽然有5克的指控已经导致健康问题,包括小说冠状病毒,绝对没有科学证据支持这个,”她说。
Hutchinson说让居民有机会空气他们的抱怨现在可以帮助他们避免昂贵而漫长的过程或保护他们的财产权利。
“提高你的问题通过官方渠道提供了一个合法的机会塑造政策实施之前,”他说。
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