Deputy Charles Parkinson made the comments following debate on a requete that will require his committee to publish its plans for States approval before pushing ahead with them.
Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez led the successful requete, which will see a States debate on Economic Development’s 5G strategy take place before the end of the year.
Having originally mooted a single, standalone 5G network, she was concerned that the committee had since told States members, following industry consultation, that an incremental approach using existing 4G network to provide 4G+ and then variables of 5G would instead be taken forward.
Pictured: The States as a whole will have the final decision over the future of 5G.
Deputy de Sausmarez expressed concerns that this would lead to a duplication of infrastructure and cherrypicking of the most profitable areas by the telcos, to the disadvantage of those living in more rural parts of the island.
“This approach appears to be neither ubiquitous or equitable,” she told the States.
Deputy Parkinson said 5G is just one part of a wider telecoms policy that his committe will be reporting back on and that the States still needs to grapple with.
He tried to dismiss the requete as “unnecessary” and “a waste of parliamentary time” but to no avail, as States members supported the requete.
Several Deputies cited information and claims about the dangers of 5G in their speeches, much to Deputy Parkinson’s annoyance.
“I am not going to be railroaded into making prejudicial decisions against 5G based on a whole load of baloney, quite frankly, that is circulating on the internet.”
The requete in full can be read HERE.