Written by Maurizio Martucci

We call them “telecommunication services accessible to public : users’ rights”. Among those electronic services, the European legislation called Universal Service Directive lists also the possibility to use data and to make phone calls without space and time limits within member States, regardless of the geographical position; Telcos have to guarantee to every European citizen/user universal, on-going and proper services. Without defining access procedures, we expressly talk about mobile phone as a European right. This is clear.

The problem is that mass high-speed communication force us to differently interpret Community law: the mobile phone concept is undermined by the dismantling of fixed telephony network, wireless technology is getting prevalent, to the detriment of “disabled consumers” (people suffering from electromagnetic hypersensitivity) who “could benefit from an offer suitable for their needs and equal to other users”.

Telecommunication right is upset by companies’ free will and convenience and 5G represents the tip of the iceberg: without considering the unheard complaints about health and ecosystem risks made by the international medical-scientific community, users will be forced to passively suffer the consequences and to effectively contribute to telephones and “smart devices” conversion – as they will be equipped with mini-antennas -, in the name of the Internet of things.

In France, starting from 2018, it’s no more possible to have a traditional landline service, 9.4 million contracts were terminated and the final goal is to fully substitute landlines with mobile phone by 2023. Italy is concerned by this forced decrease of traditional services, too: within 2024, 6,000 telephone exchanges (out of 10,500) will be dismantled. Traditional landline phones will completely disappear, cable-based communications will become old-fashioned and the Electromagnetic Age based on wireless technology will be the only choice. We all know the declared objective of 5G: simultaneously connect up to 1 million devices per square kilometer on 98% of our national territory, in order to cover 99% of citizens. The Italian Authority for Communications Guarantees (AGCOM) has recently proposed to convert (increasingly rare) old callboxes into Wi-Fi spots integrated with Smart City projects.

For those who still haven’t noticed it, we now find ourselves at an epoch-making crossroads. Non-reliable technologies and health protection from an invisible hazard are the two main cruxes to solve: we need to do it now and in a quick way, before it is too late!

In order to raise public awareness, on 27th June 2019, a press conference will be arranged at the Italian Chamber of Deputies and Alleanza Italiana Stop 5G (Italian alliance stop 5G) will present the new social campaign called DISCONNESSI DAY – DISCONNECTION DAY (live Web Tv streaming on the official Montecitorio channel).

On an international level, on 29th June 2019, a conference will be organized in Mendrisio (Ticino – Switzerland) and the European Alliance Stop 5G – including 33 committees, associations and citizens from 18 EU countries – will proclaim the first European joint mobilization day, called STOP 5G – DISCONNESSI DAY. It will take place on 1st July and it will be the EUROPEAN DAY FOR DIGITAL STRIKE in order to make Constitutional article 32 triumph.

In the light of a memorable weekend of 2016, when the No Wi-Fi Days Committee managed to make people turn off 10,000 Wi-fi devices in conjunction with the 30th anniversary of Internet appearance in Italy. The national DISCONNESSI DAY event is sponsored by the Italian consumers and association (Centro Tutela Utenti Consumatori and Movimento Consumatori).

Translation of Giorgia Stocco

REDODUCTION ALLOWED, CITING AUTHOR AND SOURCE