5G (illustration). – Lionel BONAVENTURE / AFP
- Nantes Métropole had asked operators for a moratorium while it was time to organize a public debate and negotiate.
- Several measures will accompany the ignition of 5G antennas, which began on Tuesday.
The standoff was long, but a consensus seems to have emerged. This Tuesday, after asking for a moratorium while organizing a public debate, Nantes Métropole announced that 5G would indeed be deployed in the territory. If it was impossible for the community to legally oppose this launch, the metropolis believes that it has not completely lost the battle, led by other cities all over France.
According to Johanna Rolland, the president (PS), several advances have been obtained from operators, in particular in the name of the precautionary principle. “The antennas near schools and nurseries in the metropolis will not be turned on before the delivery of the ANSES report [attendu d’ici à quelques semaines], announces Johanna Rolland. We will perhaps be the only city in France to implement this precaution. “A commitment held by SFR, which announced in the wake of the ignition of the rest of its antennas, with already the coverage of 75% of the population of the city on Tuesday.
Observatory of waves, pooling of pylons …
With this measure, which concerns 30 branches out of more than 500, the metropolis wishes to respond to “many questions and concerns” which were expressed during the famous public debate, which however only collected 400 citizen contributions. Above all, she hopes to engage in a balance of power with the operators, who have been in the starting blocks for several months already.
“A wave observatory will also be created, we will develop the installation of sensors to measure exposure,” warns Johanna Rolland, when there are currently only three. We will ask for more regulation and transparency, which will be major elements in moving towards a true responsible digital scheme. »Among the safeguards of the metropolis are also the environmental and landscape impacts. The community will, for example, urge the various operators to pool equipment, by bringing together future new antennas on a single pylon. A charter for their installation will be signed.
“A more human digital”
In parallel, as if to pass the pill, the metropolis explains that it will multiply the commitments to tend towards “a more human digital”. Development of a computer equipment reconditioning sector, a program to fight the digital divide or addiction to screens are some of the avenues. “We will use all the levers to regulate this technology, and make it a tool chosen and not endured”, reacts Julie Laernoes, vice-president (EELV) in charge of energy and climate in Nantes Métropole.
After the announcement of a 5G launch made by SFR on Tuesday, the operator Orange is due to hold a press conference on the same subject on Wednesday.