Here are a few I have come across the last week or so. Note: Each link is followed by a title and a few paragraphs. For the full article click on the link above title of the article. Note also that full access to some links may require site registration or subscription payment.
General Comment
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Really quite a busy week with the ADHA maintaining ‘silent running’ for now seven months and asking the good citizens of Toowoomba about Digital Health Interoperability. See here:
Other-wise the NBN, 5G, encryption and a range of apps feature as well as the ADHA imagining a lot of specialists will want to be using the myHealthRecord. I suspect not, but time will tell.
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My Health Record spends AU$360k on integration with specialists software
Australian Digital Health Agency invests in nine Australian software vendors to help design My Health Record-integrated software for specialists.
The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) has announced partnering with Australian software organisations to design software for specialists that integrate with its bungled My Health Record.
The ADHA has received nine designs from as many software vendors that it said could "seamlessly and securely" integrate the My Health Record into the current systems used by specialists, such as cardiologists or anaesthetists. The ADHA is investing a total of AU$360,000 -- AU$40,000 per design -- on the project.
The ADHA said that in addition to funding, it would provide "design expertise" by working with each vendor's design teams to co-produce improvements in design with their users.
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/software-vendors-get-handouts-for-my-health-record-integration-527708
Software vendors get handouts for My Health Record integration
Medical specialists in government's sights.
The Australian Digital Health Agency will dole out $360,000 for nine specialist software vendors to integrate their clinical systems with the controversial My Health Record.
The partnership – aimed at boosting the use of the e-health record system by medical specialists like cardiologists and anaesthetists – will provide each Australian vendor with $40,000.
It follows an expressions of interest process in May that invited software developers with systems in at least 10 private specialist practices to apply.
The funding will be used by the vendors to design a seamless, secure way to link up with the My Health Record over the coming months.
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My Health Record operator funds software maker integrations
ADHA targets stubborn registration rates of medical specialists
The Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA) – the system operator of the My Health Record – is providing nine clinical software vendors with $40,000 each to integrate their systems with the record and build new features.
Best Practice Software, Clinic to Cloud, Clinical Computers, Genie Solutions, Intrahealth, Medical-Objects, Medical Wizard, Software for Specialists and Zedmed were named today as recipients of the funding after they applied in May.
The funding is part of a concerted effort by the ADHA to increase My Health Record use by specialists, such as cardiologists or anaesthetists, over the next 12 months.
Some parts of the health sector have “enthusiastically embraced” the My Health Record, the agency said, pointing to increased registrations from community pharmacies.
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Vulnerability allowed attackers to edit patient gene sequence records
Genome matching program Burrows-Wheeler Aligner was open to man-in-the-middle attack, now patched
A vulnerability in a widely used, open source genomic analysis software allowed attackers to edit records of patient genetic sequences, leaving them at risk of being prescribed ineffective or toxic drugs.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories identified the weakness in genome matching program Burrows-Wheeler Aligner (BWA) and notified developers before revealing the weakness this week. A patch has been issued to address the vulnerability and fixed in the latest release.
The process of using a patient's genetic information to guide medical treatment involves sequencing genetic content from a patient's cells and comparing that sequence to a standardised human genome.
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GPs fear violence over real-time script monitoring
AMA in Queensland supports the scheme but wants safeguards in place
28th June 2019
GPs may face more assaults and violence from doctor-shoppers under real-time prescription monitoring schemes, AMA Queensland has warned.
The state is currently considering a scheme, with legislation before a parliamentary committee for review.
If passed, Queensland would join Victoria and Tasmania in using real-time script monitoring to tackle opioid addiction.
In its submission to the committee, AMA Queensland says it supports the new system but is worried it may result in more assaults on GPs.
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https://www.itnews.com.au/news/murdoch-childrens-research-institute-to-test-pain-analysis-app-527562
Murdoch Children's Research Institute to test pain analysis app
Using AI to measure and manage pain.
Australia’s largest child health research centre, Melbourne’s Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) is set to take part in a trial of a phone-based automated pain analysis tool to foster better care for non-verbal infants.
The adult version of the up from the publicly-listed company PainChek is already being deployed across the nation’s aged care sector, thanks in part to a $5 million boost from the federal government.
PainChek’s app uses neural network-based facial recognition technology to detect minute changes in a patient’s expression to accurately indicate the level of pain they’re experiencing - something that can be hard to determine in adults with degenerative conditions like dementia or in young children.
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Computer designs drug to fight the flu
- 12:00AM July 2, 2019
Human trials have begun of an anti-flu drug totally designed by artificial intelligence. The drug’s development involved feeding an artificial intelligence system 60 to 80 “good” drugs and “bad” drugs and using machine learning. The AI system generated trillions of theoretical drugs before creating a shortlist that has been tested in a lab.
Flinders University professor Nikolai Petrovsky said the drug was added to the traditional influenza vaccine. It stimulates the immune system to fight the virus. He said trials of the final version had just begun at eight US centres.
Professor Petrovsky is research director of Vaxine Pty Ltd, an Australian biotechnology company the university spun off to focus on developing innovative vaccine technologies.
The university yesterday quoted sobering statistics on the flu’s toll this year. More than 220 people have died from flu-related illnesses in Australia so far, including 57 in NSW and 48 in Victoria. There have been 96,000 confirmed cases of flu across Australia this year.
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Personalised SnakeBots point the way to the future of surgery
By Stuart Layt
July 6, 2019 — 9.53pm
Medical researchers hope the next phase in the evolution of cutting-edge medical robots could see elaborate surgeries performed in regional areas away from big hospitals.
PhD researcher Andrew Razjigaev has already developed the “SnakeBot” medical robot, designed to help surgeons perform keyhole surgery more efficiently.
Now he’s working at QUT’s Australian Centre for Robotic Vision to develop the second phase of the prototype - using multiple SnakeBots at once acting partially independently to help the surgeon.
A key part of the next phase will be using a computer algorithm to develop specially redesigned SnakeBots specifically tailored to an individual patient.
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Doctor complaint risk calculator 'not for pre-emptive AHPRA strikes'
It's best suited to helping triage complaints, developer says
2nd July 2019
The developer of a calculator that claims to identify doctors at risk of patient complaints says it should not be used for pre-emptive investigations.
Last month, a research team led by Dr Matthew Spittal (PhD) published proof-of-concept results for PRONE-HP, an algorithm for rating a doctor's chance of being subject to a complaint in the next two years.
The algorithm, which is a refined version of the PRONE calculator unveiled in 2015, gives doctors a risk score based on their age, specialty, gender and number and nature of previous complaints.
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Hash it out: Doctors, get online to fix fake news
US gastroenterologist calls on doctors to embrace social media to tackle misinformation
4th July 2019
Tired of the spread of misleading, false medical news — from anti-vaccine conspiracy theories to ‘natural’ cures for cancer?
US gastroenterologist and social media expert Dr Austin Chiang says the answer is for doctors to take to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to correct the misleading fake medical news head on.
Dr Chiang is calling on doctors to embrace social media and bridge the gap between the patient and the medical world.
“Those of us who are trained in what we do should be the ones talking about it online rather than someone who isn’t trained," writes Dr Chiang in a BMJ article.
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1 in 4 specialists happy to give GPs 'e-advice'
Study shows reviewing patients' notes online is a time-saver for all
4th July 2019
When allergy specialists advise other doctors via "e-consults", everyone — patients included — saves time, a US study suggests.
In an e-consult, specialists review a patient's electronic medical record through a secure portal, and answer questions from colleagues who seek their advice and opinion.
And an analysis of 306 allergy e-consults shows that more than one in four specialist will provide advice and education without the patient needing to go for further diagnostic testing or to see a specialist.
The system is intended to replace the informal practice of clinicians seeking medical opinions from specialists by contacting them by phone or walking into their offices.
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Friday, 05 July 2019 01:07
Mini surgical robot brainchild of young Australian researcher
A claimed “world first” cutting-edge robotics research project at the Australian Centre for Robotic Vision to create bespoke, miniaturised surgical robots, is the brainchild of a young researcher, Andrew Razjigaev.
The 23-year old Razjigaev, backed by the centre’s Medical and Healthcare Robotics Group, is taking what the centre describes as “nothing short of a quantum leap in the surgical SnakeBot’s design”.
In place of a single robot, the new plan envisages multiple snake-like robots attached to a RAVEN II surgical robotic research platform, all working together to improve patient outcomes.
Due to complete his PhD research project by early 2021, Razjigaev graduated as a mechatronics engineer at QUT in 2017 and has been a part of the Centre’s Medical and Healthcare Robotics Group since 2016.
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Using smartphone apps to promote lifestyle changes
By Juhi Bhambhaney*
Tuesday, 25 June, 2019
Tuesday, 25 June, 2019
It has been well established that one-on-one medical nutrition therapy services and behavioural counselling provided by a dietitian are effective in improving outcomes for chronic health issues such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
However, it is not uncommon to see patients relapse between dietetic consults, or even post the completion of the consults with the dietitians. There should be a way for patients to self-monitor their progress and compliance, keeping in mind the goals and strategies discussed with the dietitian during the consult.1
Smartphone apps and nutrition care
In Australia, there is an increased dependence on smartphones. In fact, a survey reported that 45% of the population claimed they cannot live without their smartphone. Therefore, it makes perfect sense that dietitians are now taking advantage of the era of mobile health, commonly known as ‘mHealth’, which is defined as incorporating the use of wireless technology to achieve various health goals.
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Providing aged-care through a TV screen
2 Jul 2019
The recent announcement about a trial of closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs) in South Australia caused an understandable outpouring of support. People with loved ones in RACFs have seen how cameras installed in bedrooms have caught and exposed perpetrators committing acts of abuse. However, the filming only took place after suspicions of abuse were raised, not before the abuse took place. Public debate has been superficial in focusing on the most obvious of concerns, the privacy of residents.
This report contains a review of the evidence behind the use of CCTV surveillance and takes a closer look at the risks and benefits associated with it to conclude that there is no evidence that it will prevent the abuse of vulnerable residents and we urge caution in its implementation and a very careful evaluation. While we await the results of the Royal Commission and associated recommendations, the aim of this report is to provide materials for a deeper public debate on the efficacy and cost of the CCTV trial in SA, what is needed to improve the model of care for vulnerable people and take a best practice approach to the prevention of abuse.
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Charlie Teo to publish fees on government's transparency website: Hunt
By Kate Aubusson
July 5, 2019 — 10.38am
Controversial neurosurgeon Charlie Teo will publicly disclose his charges on the federal government's planned specialist fees website, Health Minister Greg Hunt says.
Dr Teo has been at the centre of fierce debate over exorbitant out-of-pocket specialist and private hospital fees and patients turning to crowdfunding to cover the cost of operations and other medical treatment.
In March, Mr Hunt announced the federal government would publish the fees of individual specialists on a searchable website to help patients avoid "bill shock" and as part of a crackdown on doctors charging excessive sums.
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3 July 2019
How GPs can avoid becoming a Telstra shop
GPs know there are potential benefits of recommending smartphone apps to patients but need professional guidance to avoid their consult feeling like a “Telstra shop,” a study says.
Researchers at Bond University recently analysed the results from the 2017 RACGP technology survey and found while two-thirds of GPs use apps professionally for themselves, only half are recommending them to patients.
The study surveyed more than 1000 GPs with a median age of 51.4 years.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the longer practitioners had been in general practice, the less likely they were to recommend mobile apps to their patients.
“The main reasons [for not recommending apps] included GPs not seeing how mobile technology could benefit their day-to-day practice (39%) [and] not being confident on how to use mobile technology safely in daily practice (20%),” the study authors said.
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For the right patient, this Red Cross app could be a lifesaver
Dr Park is a GP on the Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
5th July 2019
My Team is a new app from the Australian Red Cross. It’s another mental health app in a rapidly expanding amount of apps available to support patients with mental illnesses.
When opened, the app questions your current mood, highlights how you are feeling and has you describe your current experiences.
It does this by simply asking you to click coloured face emojis and descriptive terms that the app then tracks. It can also help you set and track simple goals.
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Queensland dust disease register live as silicosis epidemic bites
By Stuart Layt
July 3, 2019 — 11.49am
Dust-related-disease advocates say a new public register is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done for sufferers of the debilitating disease silicosis.
Following changes made by the Queensland government, all instances of pneumoconiosis, silicosis and other occupational dust diseases will now be recorded on the Queensland Health Notifiable Dust Lung Disease Register.
“Every Queensland worker has the right to safe working conditions,” Industrial Relations minister Grace Grace said.
“The Queensland Health Notifiable Dust Lung Disease Register provides a further layer of protection for workers and will provide government with important data on work related occupational lung disease.”
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Cyber attack: ‘worm could kill post’
- 12:00AM July 5, 2019
Australia Post has been found to be “not cyber resilient” by the nation’s Auditor-General, who ruled that the key government business enterprise had failed to effectively manage risks.
In a report tabled in parliament yesterday, Auditor-General Grant Hehir says the Reserve Bank and ASC Pty Ltd — formerly the Australian Submarine Corporation — had high levels of cyber resilience.
However, he found Australia Post had not met the requirements of its own cyber security resilience framework, despite its “extreme” risk rating based on the potential consequences of a cyber breach and the likelihood of one occurring within a year.
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A virtual treatment for real problems
Virtual reality is showing promising results as a way to treat problems from phobias to post traumatic stress and even schizophrenia.
Luke Mintz
Jul 6, 2019 — 12.45am
Whatever you do, don't look down, I think, as I hobble across a narrow plank of wood, suspended in the air, miles above a mysterious city. My task is to get to the other side and collect a package, but any misstep would result in certain death. I've never been particularly afraid of heights, but my stomach is turning as I look down at the gaping drop on either side. After one frightening wobble, I reach my target.
I'm not really doing any of this, of course. My feet are in fact safely inside the office of Professor Daniel Freeman, a leading psychiatrist at Oxford University, who is showing me his 360-degree virtual reality (VR) treatment. The animated scene I've just experienced exists entirely inside my headset. In the safety of a virtual world, Freeman's patients are helped to face some of their most debilitating fears.
"You help the person learn that what they feared will happen, isn't going to happen," he says. "People can do stuff in VR they can't do in the real world, because they know it's not real. It gives them the chance to try out behaving differently. The lesson they learn then transfers to the real world."
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Deakin University mobile app helps cancer carers
Nathan Eddy | 02 Jul 2019
A research team from Deakin University's School of Nursing and Midwifery has developed and tested a new mobile phone app that provides guidance for carers looking after people with cancer.
The Carer Guide app was tested with a 30-day pilot trial among a group of carers of colorectal cancer patients recruited from the Victorian health service, receiving positive responses from participants.
"Mobile technology like the Carer Guide has the capacity to contain all of the resources carers may require, so they don't have to spend hours sourcing information on the internet," researcher Natalie Heynsbergh told Healthcare IT News. "Having everything on an app also means that carers can access support as needs arise."
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Scott Morrison secures G20 deal to block violent terrorism on Facebook and social media
By David Crowe
June 29, 2019 — 6.52pm
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has gained an agreement from world leaders to put new pressure on Facebook and other social media giants to halt the spread of violent terrorism online in the wake of the Christchurch attacks in March.
The declaration at the G20 summit in Japan is a significant victory for Mr Morrison and the Australian government in demanding faster action by all companies to take down violent terror content.
The Osaka summit ended on Saturday afternoon with a warning to the social media companies to lift their standards, a message backed by all members including US President Donald Trump after months of Australian diplomatic effort.
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Maternity system required remedial work at time of baby’s death
Wednesday, 3 July 2019
eHealthNews.nz editor Rebecca McBeth
Issues with the electronic Maternity Clinical Information System in use at Palmerston North Hospital in 2015 have surfaced during a coroner’s inquest into the death of a baby girl.
MidCentral District Health Board says it has since worked with the Ministry of Health and the vendor, Clevermed, to remedy issues with the system and improve its performance in the New Zealand health system.
Charlotte Harding was born at the hospital on 11 August 2015, but died 10 hours later. A coronial inquest into her death was held last month.
It heard that a doctor had booked a caesarean for the mother because of the baby’s poor condition, but this was cancelled by a consulting obstetrician, who decided to proceed with a vaginal birth.
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Friday, 05 July 2019 11:14
Australia sought access to 1817 Apple customers' devices in 2H2018
Australian law enforcement authorities made 1817 requests seeking details of customers' Apple devices in the second half of 2018, according to a list of such requests released by Apple.
The 1817 requests covered a total of 2648 devices. "Device-based requests generally seek details of customers associated with devices or device connections to Apple services," the company explained.
In 1369 of these cases, the requested data was provided, meaning about 75% were satisfied.
Australia's request were the highest in the Asia-Pacific region, but in the case of some other countries, more devices were requested. Mainland China, for example, made 689 requests but they covered 137,595 devices in all.
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Vault says anti-encryption laws harming its tech exports
Laws motivating data exodus.
Australian secure cloud provider Vault Cloud says the public perception of the government’s anti-encryption law has “materially and detrimentally” impacted the export of its technology.
In a submission to another review of the hastily passed Assistance and Access Act (AA Act), Vault's chief Rupert Taylor-Price told a senate committee this perception alone was the “largest economic impact” of the new law.
Vault's submission is significant in terms of the pressure it can bring to bear at both a policy and public sector perception level, with two former public service agency chiefs on its board.
One of those is Dennis Richardson, the former head both of the Department of Defence and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, a respected veteran with a deep understanding of the motivations of security agencies and their masters.
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Encryption laws are creating an exodus of data from Australia: Vault
Detrimental effects are both real and perceived, according to Australian cloud provider.
Australian cloud provider Vault Systems has said it is being "materially and detrimentally impacted" by Australia's encryption laws, even if it is just the perception of them.
"As foreign governments and customers are assessing against a 'media headline test', we are in an unfortunate position where logical persuasion is not sufficient to counter perception," Vault said in a submission to a review of the laws.
"We are currently seeing an exodus of data from Australia including physical, operational, and legal sovereignty."
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Home Affairs says no problems with encryption laws even though local companies suffer
The department said it is however 'focused' on addressing the negative perception of Australia's encryption laws, saying companies actually lack a clear understanding of the obligations within legislation.
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has finally conceded that the perception of Australia's encryption laws has had a "material impact on the Australian market" and the ability for Australian companies to compete globally, after hearing many tell it such for months.
In a submission [PDF] to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS), instead of continuing to water down concerns about how the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Act 2018 has impacted Australian businesses, DHA said it is focussing on engaging with all involved to "clarify and reiterate the intent and operation" of the Bill that was rammed through Parliament in December 2018.
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Government acknowledges Aussie business have taken hit from ‘encryption’ law
Department of Home Affairs says the problem is the perception of the new rules, not the reality
The Department of Home Affairs has acknowledged that, according to advice it has received from industry, the way the so-called ‘encryption’ legislation is perceived has “had a material impact on the Australian market and the ability for Australian companies to compete globally”.
In a submission to a parliamentary inquiry examining the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Act 2018 (the TOLA Act), the department argues that the legislation won’t make Australian-built electronic products and services less secure, but admits that the rest of the world may not see it that way.
“Consumers, international companies and investors are concerned domestically produced or located products and services have been undermined by the legislation, and that the industry assistance framework increases the costs of doing business in Australia,” the department said.
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Monday, 01 July 2019 11:00
Strengthened rules give stronger protections to telecommunications consumers: ACMA
The telecommunications regulator, The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), says telco consumers will now be better protected under new consumer protection rules it has just introduced.
The enhancement of protections comes after the ACMA announced on Monday it has revised and strengthened the Telecommunications Consumer Protections (TCP) Code which requires telcos to promote and sell their products in a fair and responsible manner.
The industry-developed Code also requires telcos to clearly explain key terms and conditions to enable consumers to make informed decisions and to assess a customer’s capacity to pay.
"We see evidence of customers being encouraged to sign up to multiple plans which do not meet their needs, are excessive or beyond their financial capacity,” said ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin.
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ACCC unsure about NBN Co's 'Netflix tax'
And the network builder isn't answering any more questions.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission says there is still insufficient detail to determine if NBN Co’s ‘Netflix tax’ proposal would break net neutrality or cause other problems nessitating intervention.
The missing pieces in the proposal - and there are still many - are also unlikely to be filled anytime soon after NBN Co revised its initial public statements on the matter, but then refused to take questions.
Subscription telecommunications title CommsDay and iTnews both reported on the proposal, which is contained in NBN Co’s new wholesale price review.
“Would your organisation support the development of a price response whereby charging of streaming video could be differentiated from the charging of other traffic/services? Would your organisation be likely to productise such a mechanism if developed by NBN?” the question in the review states.
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Govt wants broadband tax passed this year
Resurrects legislation.
The federal government has resurrected its heavily-delayed plan to introduce a broadband tax, with the laws expected to be in place before parliament wraps up for the year.
Plans to both introduce and pass the regional broadband scheme (RBS) charge bill were revealed in the government’s proposed laundry list of legislation released on Tuesday.
The tax, which was first proposed in December 2016, would see residential and business users of "NBN-equivalent" fixed line services slapped with a monthly fee of $7.10.
The proceeds would then be used by NBN Co to fund future costs of commercially unviable portions of its network - the satellite and fixed wireless footprints - and prevent future calls on the budget or public funds.
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Wednesday, 03 July 2019 19:56
NBN Co denies it has plans for any 'Netflix tax'
Australian national broadband network builder NBN Co has denied that it has any plans to introduce a "Netflix tax" and charge increased rates for customers who stream videos.
The company was responding to claims by the paywalled CommsDay newsletter that such a move had been proposed in a wholesale pricing and product consultation review which is canvassing the views of retail service providers.
The consultation paper has been marked "commercial in confidence" but NBN Co did not say anything about looking to find out who had leaked the paper to CommsDay.
In the past, the company has taken a somewhat strong-arm approach to leakers; in August 2016, the Australian Federal Police raided the Department of Parliamentary Services at Parliament House to try and find out the source of leaks that led to a number of stories about the NBN.
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NBN Co floats its own 'Netflix tax'
Proposes extra charges for video streaming.
NBN Co has raised the prospect of treating streaming video differently from other traffic types on its network, with users charged extra for the privilege of using Netflix and similar services.
The proposal is currently before NBN Co’s top 50 retail service providers (RSPs). Its existence was first reported by subscription telecommunications title CommsDay.
“Would your organisation support the development of a price response whereby charging of streaming video could be differentiated from the charging of other traffic/services? Would your organisation be likely to productise such a mechanism if developed by NBN?” the question in NBN Co's new wholesale pricing review states.
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Thursday, 04 July 2019 20:12
ACMA NBN modem testing shows 5GHz band better for Wi-Fi
A test of 43 modems used on fibre-to-the-node and fibre-to-the-building NBN connections indicates that use of the 5GHz band is much better than 2.4GHz when it comes to Wi-Fi throughput.
The tests were carried out during December and January in laboratory conditions by a company known as Enex for the Australian Communications and Media Authority. Services from Optus, Telstra and iiNet were used for the tests.
Both wired and Wi-Fi throughput were tested and the findings indicated that in the former case there was little difference between the various modems, but in the case of Wi-Fi there was a great deal of difference in throughput.
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Wednesday, 03 July 2019 10:37
NBN Co exceeds targets for connected, activated premises
The Australian national broadband network builder NBN Co has exceeded its connection targets for the financial year 2019, connecting more than 1.1 million premises in the three months to 27 June.
This took the total number of premises that are ready to connect to 9.93 million, beating the target of 9.7 million.
This meant more than 75% of all homes and businesses could now connect to the network, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.
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Monday, 01 July 2019 09:55
NBN Co's increased CVC for 100Mbps plans offers only small boost
The NBN Co's decision to offer an increase in the CVC included with 100Mbps plans from 2.5Mbps to 3Mbps will not provide a speed boost to the extent that those reading certain media outlets would expect, the head of a small Tasmanian retail service provider says.
Damian Ivereigh, the chief executive of the Launceston-based Launtel, said in a blog post that calculations based on the average spread of plans showed that the performance boost would be in the region of 2.5% and certainly not 20% as many might think.
The increase in CVC for 100Mbps plans was announced on the same day that NBN Co said it would be reviewing its wholesale charges and offering RSPs the chance to comment on them before making any changes.
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Telcos feel the heat over 5G health concerns
Australian telcos are bracing for public opposition to the rollout of super-fast 5G mobile networks, with pockets of resistance starting to sprout in major cities.
Public anxiety about mobile radiation is not new, with every iteration of mobile technology — 2G, 3G and 4G — prompting a small but vocal community to raise concerns. However, 5G technology poses new challenges.
The technology’s promise of lightning-fast speed relies on the use of very high frequency spectrum known as millimetre wave (mmWave).
The effect of these high frequency waves on human health over an extended time has stoked public concern. The worries are compounded by 5G networks needing five times the amount of equipment now required for 3G and 4G mobile networks. While traditional networks rely on towers and poles, 5G services will be delivered through a much more dense network of small cells, in some cases as small as a shoebox.
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Enjoy!
David.
