Introduction:
One way in which New Zealanders are beginning to respond to having the threat of 5G deployed in our country is by joining the boycott of the companies that have stated that they want to build 5G networks. The companies that want to build 5G networks are Spark, 2Degrees and Vodafone.
If you have a job or family responsibilities that mean that you have to use a mobile phone at this stage in your life, you may be wondering how you can avoid paying money to Spark, Vodafone and 2Degrees – given that any of these companies might then use this money to help build its 5G network.
Vodafone, Spark and 2Degrees are the only companies that operate mobile phone infrastructure in New Zealand. (Other companies that provide mobile phone services use the networks owned by 2Degrees, Vodafone or Spark.) Unfortunately, this means that if you have to use a mobile phone you cannot entirely avoid contributing to the coffers of Spark, Vodafone or Degrees. However, you CAN reduce the amount of financial support that you give to the 5G companies by choosing an alternative mobile phone services provider.
Here’s How:
If you must have a mobile phone, choosing a provider of mobile phone services other than Spark, Vodafone or 2Degrees (or their subsidiaries) would be helpful for the 5G boycott because even if your phone uses a network owned by one of Spark, Vodafone and 2Degrees the relevant company would make less money from your mobile phone use if you choose a different telecommunications company rather than paying Spark, Vodafone and 2Degrees directly.
(This is because if you use an alternative mobile phone services retailer, rather than Spark, Vodafone or Degrees (or one of their subsidiaries) the network owner (whether Vodafone, 2Dgrees or Spark) will receive only the wholesale cut of your mobile spend, not the full retail amount.)
To the best of our knowledge there are six major brands of mobile phone services providers on the NZ market:
- Spark
- Vodafone
- 2Degrees
- Skinny
- Warehouse Mobile
- Compass Mobile
- Slingshot Mobile
In terms of options, Spark, Vodafone and 2Degrees all want to build 5G networks (which is why they are being boycotted).
Skinny is owned by Spark, so it, too, is on the boycott list.
Warehouse Mobile uses the 2Degrees mobile network although it is not clear from its website whether it is owned by The Warehouse or is a subsidiary of 2Degrees. (If anyone can confirm what company owns the Warehouse Mobile brand please email via this link with this information and the reference source so this post can be updated.)
Therefore, based on the information to hand at the moment, Compass and Slingshot emerges as the best choice from New Zealand’s mobile companies from the point of view of not supporting the companies that want to deploy 5G in NZ. (Slingshot mobile uses Spark’s network but Spark will make less money from your mobile spend if you do not pay them directly. It is not clear from the Compass’s website which mobile network it may use.)
Ed note: If you know of any other mobile phone providers in NZ and would like to share this information, please email with the name of the company, the name of the network it uses (whether the one belonging to Spark, Vodafone, or 2Degrees) and the source for the information. This is the contact form link: https://5g.org.nz/contact/
Safer Mobile Phone Use
Please note that if you have to use a mobile phone to make or take calls, if you place your phone on a surface (such as a table) and use an airtube headset, this reduces the radiation exposure to your head and body.
Talking in a car while driving is not recommended because even with a hands-free phone system there is an increased risk of having an accident.
Do be aware that mobile phones are designed to be addictive and if you have to have a mobile phone, discipline yourself to using it for only short, essential calls or texts. This potentially saves you money.
Having a personal policy of using mobile phones only for short essential calls or texting can also can help with protecting our environment and other people’s health because using mobile phones for prolonged tasks (such as surfing the net, watching videos or streaming music) ties up the capacity of the local mobile network and each tower can only handle a certain number of connections at a time.
The net result of lots of people choosing to use mobile phones (or “fixed wireless” connections) to access the internet (rather than safe, hardwired connections) is that companies like Spark, 2Degrees and Vodafone are building more cellular phone towers to meet the demand for additional simultaneous connections to their mobile networks.
There is additional information on safer mobile phone use available at the following link: https://ehtrust.org/take-action/educate-yourself/
Hardwired options are the healthiest options
Hardwired options are health healthiest options for you – and also beneficial for the environment because wireless data transfer is less energy efficient than hardwired systems. If you need information about safe hardwired internet connections via copper or fibre there is information on how to do this at the links below.
If you have only fibre to your home and would like a safe hardwired phone, there is information to help you here: https://www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/latest-news/can-corded-phone-fibre/
NB: You can find companies that offer internet connections and phone systems via copper and fibre at the the following link: https://5g.org.nz/2019/08/23/boycott-5g/
Website editor’s note: Thank you to www.freedigitalphotos.net and Stuart Miles for the use of the image with this post.
Website editor’s note:
Thank you for reading this post on www.5G.org.nz, NZ’s 5G information website. If you found it to be interesting, please share it with your friends and family.
If you are on Facebook, please also check out the 5G Free New Zealand FB page at the following link as this is the best way to stay up-to-date with 5G related news: https://www.facebook.com/5GFreeNewZealand/
If you would like to help in any way with the campaign against 5G in NZ, please email through the Contact Form on this website.
There is a now Resources page on the site where you can download flyers and poster for printing and distribution and also download the new 5G Free New Zealand Personal Action Plan.
We now also have an Events Page in which events relating to 5G will be listed as information comes to hand.
If you would like to stay up to date with information on what is happening in NZ in relation to smart technology, 5G and wireless and health issues, please visit www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz and email through the contact form and ask to be signed up to the free email list.
This will mean that you receive occasional newsletters from Stop Smart Meters NZ which include information on 5G as well as smart meters and related wireless technologies.
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