FOI release

FOI2019-06575 5G strategy

Published 19 June 2019

Dear

I am writing in response to your email dated 31 May 2019. I am treating your correspondence as a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

• Do you have a 5G strategy
  • If yes, I request to see the complete strategy, its ambitions and its objectives in PPTX, Word, PDF or picture format.
  • If yes, has the public had the opportunity to read and understand [Council’s] 5G strategy? Where was this information published?
• I also request a supplementary document that includes the highest level of detail on all 5G technology that’s planned to be used and currently in use in public spaces within Aberdeenshire:
  • Companies and entities involved and the names of the company/entity officers.
  • Specification sheets of 5G technology.
  • What technology e.g. units and arrays are not currently 5G, but can be 5G enabled e.g. with current software, future software, hardware upgrades or retrofitting?
  • What UK, EU and International safety standards are complying with for the 5G strategy and existing 5G technology.
  • I request proof e.g. a certificate from [Council] that confirms that the UK, EU and municipalities International safety standards for workers and the public have been met.
  • If no, I request to know when you will be chairing a 5G strategy?

• I request the name/s of the Officer/s in charge of the 5G strategy and roll out for 5G and Smart Cities; and who their subject area expert or consultancy is, their CV and qualifications on 5G and Smart Cities.

• Are you in talks with any experts, companies or entities about autonomous vehicles (AV) for public transport and/or private use on Public Highways?
  • If yes, I request to see the complete strategy, its ambitions and its objectives in PPTX, Word, PDF or picture format.
  • I also request a supplementary document that includes all levels of detail on:
  • Companies and entities involved and the names of the company/entity officers?
  • Specification sheets of all technology.
  • What type of communication system will [Council] be utilising to control the vehicles?
  • What UK, EU and International safety standards does your AV strategy and rollout comply with?
  • I request proof e.g. a certificate from your ministry that confirms that the UK, EU and International safety standards for workers and the public have been met.
• Do you have a strategy for smart roads and smart signage on Public Highways and Public spaces?
  • If yes, I request to see the complete strategy, its ambitions and its objectives in PPTX, Word, PDF or picture format.
• I also request a supplementary document that includes all levels of detail on:
  • Companies and entities involved and the names of the company/entity officers?
  • Specification sheets of all technology.
  • What technology e.g. units and arrays will not be 5G, but can be 5G enabled e.g. with current software, future software, hardware upgrades or retrofitting, etc (you must be specific on anything here)?
  • What UK, EU and International safety standards does your 5G strategy and rollout comply with?
  • I request proof e.g. a certificate from [Council] that confirms that the UK, EU and International safety standards for workers and the public have been met.
• Are you planning to roll out or have rolled out LED street lighting?
• If yes, please answer these questions:
  • What is the CMS and specification of the software and hardware of the LED street light system?
  • What type of waveform is the LED? e.g. Square wave?
  • Can you control the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) of the streetlight system using the CMS?
  • Can you control the PWM of each streetlight that’s connected to the system?
  • What restrictions do you have in place for the control of the PWM?
  • What is the UK, EU and International safety limit (low and high) for the amount of ‘flicker’ (Hz) the Human Body and eyes can be exposed to and for how long?
  • I request to see the training manual and safety operation manual for the CMS and the LED streetlight system.
  • Who is the company who is or has installed the CMS LED streetlight system?
  • What company maintains and repairs the CMS and LED streetlight system?
  • What entity and Officer are responsible for the safety standards for the CMS and LED streetlight system?
  • I request proof e.g. a certificate from your ministry that confirms that UK, EU, and International safety standards for workers and the public have been met.
  • What is the amount of Blue Light leakage that’s safe for the public and workers during the LED streetlights operation?
  • What level of LED streetlight exposure is safe for the public at daytime and night time?
  • Is there a legal requirement for diffusers to be fitted to LED streetlights?
  • How have you have addressed the amount of Oxidative Stress on Human and Animal cells that are produced from LED?
  • If no, then I request a declaration from the responsible Ministry that you will not be installing LED streetlights in the future. If you cannot provide a declaration, I would like the following answered in the future tense:
  • What is the CMS and specification of the software and hardware of the LED street light system?
  • What type of waveform is the LED? e.g. Square wave?
  • Can you control the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) of the streetlight system using the CMS?
  • Can you control the PWM of each streetlight that’s connected to the system?
  • What restrictions do you have in place for the control of the PWM?
  • What is the UK, EU and International safety limit (low and high) for the amount of ‘flicker’ (Hz) the Human Body and eyes can be exposed to and for how long?
  • I request to see the training manual and safety operation manual for the CMS and the LED streetlight system.
  • Who is the company who is or has installed the CMS LED streetlight system?
  • What company maintains and repairs the CMS and LED streetlight system?
  • What entity and Officer is responsible for the safety standards for the CMS and LED streetlight system?
  • I request proof e.g. a certificate from [Council] that confirms that the UK, EU and International safety standards for workers and the public have been met.
  • What is the amount of Blue Light leakage that’s safe for the public and workers during the LED streetlights operation?
  • What level of LED streetlight exposure is safe for the public at daytime and night time?
  • Is there a legal requirement for diffusers to be fitted to LED streetlights?
  • How have you have addressed the amount of Oxidative Stress on Human and Animal cells that’s produced from LED?
• Where do you have 3G and 4G systems in public spaces and public roads?

In response to your queries, I have completed a search for the information within the Defence Electronics & Components Agency, and I can confirm that we do not hold information in scope of your request. You may note that the Defence Electronics & Components Agency does not have any influence or involvement in the UK 5G networks, smart cities, public transport, public highways or LED street lighting.

If you are not satisfied with this response or you wish to complain about any aspect of the handling of your request, then you should contact me in the first instance. If informal resolution is not possible and you are still dissatisfied then you may apply for an independent internal review by contacting the Information Rights Compliance team, Ground Floor, MOD Main Building, Whitehall, SW1A 2HB or by e-mailing CIO-FOI-IR@mod.uk. Please note that any request for an internal review must be made within 40 working days of the date on which the attempt to reach informal resolution has ended.

If you remain dissatisfied following an internal review, you may take your complaint to the Information Commissioner under the provisions of Section 50 of the Freedom of Information Act. Please note that the Information Commissioner will not investigate your case until the MOD internal review process is complete. You can find further details of the role and powers of the Information Commissioner on the Commissioner’s website

Regards

DECA FOI