The phenomenon continues: Theorists try to prevent antenna deployment by protesting and igniting antennas in Limassol City over the weekend • And it turns out that the state has no deployment of the new network at all

• Photo: EPA

Don't stop: 4 cellular antennas were lit this weekend in Limassol City, Cyprus. Authorities believe this is a direct result of continuing theories on social networks trying to link the 5G (fifth generation) with the spread of the corona virus and other health dangers.

Local police spokeswoman Christos Andrew told the Associated Press that law enforcement agencies have agreed with telecommunications service providers to step up security measures around communications facilities, including damage prevention fencing. The Cypriot media said they were "very disturbed" by the arson.

Damage to the antennas has severed the cellular network in the area and the repair may take weeks. At the same time, Cyprus does not even have a 5G network infrastructure, and the same ignited antennas do not support the new network at all.

And this is not a single case, but a global phenomenon. In New Zealand at least 17 antennas have been lit since the epidemic broke out, in the UK more than 80 mobile antennas have been attacked. In addition, opponents have ignited a number of cellular antennas throughout the Netherlands - and even caused the 112 emergency line collapse (equivalent to 100 in Israel) in several areas of the country.

Following the exceptional cases and global turmoil around the network deployment, the World Health Organization and the United Nations International Telecommunications Union (ITU), an official statement issued last week stated that there was no connection between the 5G and the outbreak of the Corona virus.