Lively debate about the planned mobile phone mast in Kochel
Created: 07/02/2022, 10:00 am
By: Christiane Mühlbauer
Discussed with the experts: around 30 citizens, mainly from the districts of Pessenbach and Ort as well as from Ried (tables on the right), and nine municipal councilors (tables on the left).
© arp
The planned construction of a 5G mobile phone mast near the industrial park in Pessenbach is causing uncertainty and criticism among some citizens.
The municipality of Kochel had therefore invited to the "Citizens' Dialogue Mobile Radio" on the home stage on Thursday.
There was a lively discussion at times.
Kochel am See – It has been known for a few months that a subsidiary of Vodafone wants to build a 5G radio mast in Pessenbach on the industrial estate (we reported).
The occasion is a white spot analysis by the Federal Network Agency.
Experts refer to the white spots on the map as "white spots" where no broadband mobile communications have been available up to now.
In order to answer the numerous questions from the citizenry, Kochel's Mayor Thomas Holz had invited to an information event.
Christian Schilling, the Vodafone representative for state politics in Bavaria, and two scientific employees from the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, Dr.
Alexander Leymann and Marcus Kornek.
The event was moderated by two representatives of the "Dialog initiative Germany talks about 5G", Michael Schulze and Lynn Willmer.
Around 30 citizens, mainly from Pessenbach, Ort and Ried, came, as well as many local councillors.
Radiation protection expert: "A higher frequency does not mean a higher risk"
Leymann initially gave a lecture on the current state of research in relation to mobile communications and health.
5G is a new efficient technology that needs less radiation to send information.
"A higher frequency does not mean a higher danger," he said.
A mast radiates much weaker than a smartphone, which is the strongest source of radiation, "but this is still very weak".
The worse the reception, the more the mobile phone would have to “roll”.
It is advisable to hold the smartphone away from your head when making a call, as this reduces the strength of the electromagnetic field.
The previous scientific knowledge of the other technologies can also be applied to 5G, said Leymann.
There are no scientifically proven health effects.
Vodafone must close gaps in the supply network
According to Christian Schilling from Vodafone, the company is obliged to close the gaps in the supply network.
In the Pessenbach area, the rail network and federal highway are covered.
A service of 100 MBit/s must be made available to the customer.
The three common systems 2G, 4G and 5G are to be installed on the planned 50 meter high lattice mast.
It is equipped with lower and middle frequency bands (700, 800 and 900 megahertz or 1.8 and 2.1 gigahertz).
In addition to Vodafone, the mast will also be available for Telefonica and Deutsche Telekom.
Answering the questions of the citizens: (from left to right) Christian Schilling (Vodafone), Michael Schulze and Lynn Willmer from the "Dialoginitiative Germany speaks about 5G" and Mayor Thomas Holz as well as (on the screen) Dr.
Alexander Leymann (left) and Marcus Kornek, scientific staff at the Federal Office for Radiation Protection.
© arp
The mast is coming whether the community wants it or not
Whether the mast has a flashing light is decided during the approval process, said Schilling when asked by a citizen.
This is not decided by Vodafone, but depends on whether the area is considered a flight corridor or not.
The fact that the construction project is privileged – in other words: if the municipal council votes against it, the district office can replace the municipal agreement – caused great criticism from the citizens.
Ultimately, Vodafone could sue for the right to build.
"It's all happened before," says Schilling.
The property in Pessenbach is made available by a private owner.
There is already a so-called "railway radio mast" nearby.
Further masts are not planned in the foreseeable future.
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Citizens worry about insects, birds and plants
Numerous questions came from the citizens, and there were sometimes lively requests to speak, for example in relation to various studies.
Leymann said, for example, that electromagnetic fields had no effect on the death of insects, birds or plants.
"That has been very well researched." The decline in this habitat is often due to the use of pesticides.
Farmer worries about livestock
A farmer was worried about calf miscarriages, cattle mortality and lack of milk yield.
Here, Marcus Kornek from the Federal Office for Radiation Protection replied, a study had shown that the cause was not electromagnetic fields, but a viral disease due to a weakened immune system.
When asked further, Kornek said there was no evidence that cell phone radiation weakened the immune system of calves and cattle or led to a viral disease.
Many citizens find the mast too high
Many citizens are also displeased with the height of the mast, and arguments were made about the line of sight and tourism.
"Roche's chimney is 'only' 40 meters long," said one citizen.
One visitor complained that when it came to expanding mobile communications, “the public was not asked at all whether they had a problem with reception”.
Criticism of the community was also raised.
Holz defended himself: "The fact that digitization should be promoted is a decision at federal level, by all major parties." The municipality has already submitted an application for funding in order to be able to determine mobile phone radiation in various districts.
Could you also build two lower masts?
Municipal councilor Sonja Mayer asked whether, for example, two 25 meter masts could be built instead of one 50 meter high mast.
That would affect the quality, explained Schilling.
On the other hand, it would lead to even more masts, and ultimately it is also a question of profitability.
Mobile communications, possible risks and the question of location were discussed for almost four hours.
Anyone who has a location suggestion in the search area can contact the municipality, and it will then be forwarded to the Vodafone subsidiary, said Holz.
By the way: Everything from the region is now also available in our regular Bad Tölz newsletter.