5G virus conspiracy theory fuels mast damage amid British rollout

A relay mast operated by Vodafone in Berlin, Germany, last year. Recently, 5G masts have been set on fire in Britain by people who believer 5G helps spread the coronavirus. — Reuters

Telecom masts that enable the next generation of wireless communication were set on fire in Britain in recent days, apparently by people motivated by a theory that the tech helps spread the coronavirus. Investors are taking note.

"Most will laugh at this scientifically unproven claim, but we should not underestimate public worry about potentially adverse health impacts of 5G due to radiation, and thus a possible drag on the 5G progress in democratic countries,” analysts led by Edison Lee at Jefferies Financial Group Inc. said in a note on April 5.