The deployment of 5G varies by city. Some are reluctant to do so while others see it as a means of “enhancing the attractiveness of the territory”
Caution or welcome technological innovation? From Lille, in favor of a moratorium, to Nice, welcoming, the big French cities differ on the deployment of the new generation of mobile networks, which will allow a tenfold Internet speed.
Bordeaux, Lyon, Grenoble: recalcitrant but powerless
In Bordeaux, despite the moratorium demanded at the end of September by the city council, Free Mobile followed by Bouygues Telecom and SFR activated their 5G antennas on February 8. The ecologist town hall was said to be “sorry” on February 8 when 5G opened in the city. “It’s an admission of failure,” said Delphine Jamet, deputy mayor EELV Pierre Hurmic. “The only thing we can do is to ensure health care that the exposure to waves is not important. Measuring sensors have been installed to monitor this public exposure. “Clearly, we cannot do what we want on our own territory. We are not listened to. The State, despite its great rhetoric on climate change, does not hear ”, deplores Delphine Jamet.
We can’t do what we want on our own territory
To justify the deployment of 5G in Bordeaux, operators highlight the work of the National Frequency Agency (ANFR) and the creation of its “Observatory of waves”.
In Lyon, SFR announced on December 18 that it was launching the marketing of its 5G service, joining Bouygues and Free. The mayor, Grégory Doucet, then took note of this announcement, failing to be able to oppose it, recalling that he asked “all operators for strong signals on their social and societal responsibility”.
According to a barometer carried out by the Zone ADSL comparator, recently cited by La Tribune Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, more than 200 5G antennas have already been installed in Lyon.
In Grenoble, 45 branches equip the city according to the same barometer. Mayor EELV Éric Piolle lamented that town halls do not actually have the legal means to oppose the deployment of 5G in their municipality. “The government has tied the hands of local elected officials in the area. There is a democratic problem. In court, each time, the operators win (…) We have no choice, it starts without us, we are not aware, it goes like that ”, he declared at the start February on France Inter.
Lille: moratorium adopted
In Lille, the city council adopted a moratorium on 5G in mid-October until the publication scheduled for spring 2021 of a report from the National Health Security Agency (ANSES) on the subject, and the operators decided to do not pass by force.
“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! “, Mayor Martine Aubry (PS) said on Twitter.
Paris, Rennes, Nantes, Strasbourg: charter and citizens’ debates
In Paris, after the citizens’ conference organized at the end of December, a new mobile telephony charter will be submitted to the Paris council in March. The signing of this voluntary charter by the town hall and the operators (Bouygues Telecom, Free Mobile, Orange and SFR) will pave the way for the commercial launch of 5G in Paris “in the coming weeks”.
In Rennes, a “5G study mission”, led by a municipal councilor, was set up in mid-November and must present its recommendations to the municipal council on March 29. Ditto in Nantes, where the launch of a public debate in February and March 2021 was announced in early December.
If Strasbourg launched a citizens’ conference in early December, the conclusions of which have not yet been made public, Orange has started to deploy its 5G network in the city in early February. “Orange is the only operator to have committed not to deploy 5G within a hundred meters of schools, nurseries and hospitals,” Caroline Zorn, vice-president of the Eurometropolis of Strasbourg, told the Latest News from Alsace. , responsible for digital.
Marseille, Toulouse, Nice, Montpellier: network welcome
From Nice, the first French city covered by the mobile network since the end of November, to Marseille, via Montpellier and Toulouse, 5G has not created a stir.
“There was no fierce opposition, we consulted citizens on the new uses made possible by this innovation, 5G, this will strengthen the attractiveness of our territory”, assured mid-December Bertrand Serp, vice -President of Toulouse Métropole in charge of the digital transition.
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