Phonegate Alert reveals a new exceedance detected by ANFR of the limit of the specific absorption rate (SAR) (4.33 W/kg instead of 4 W/kg) on the CrossCall Core S5, a smartphone mainly intended for professionals (police officers, firefighters). Despite a requirement to release a corrective software update, the Agency has still not published the non-compliance report in its DATA database, despite our repeated requests.
The Core S5 is already the 59th dangerous mobile phone to be flagged for non-compliance since we began reporting in 2018.
CrossCall targets professionals
French manufacturer CrossCall, which specializes in rugged smartphones for security, defense, healthcare, and construction, launched this new model, the Core S5, at the end of 2024. However, at the time of publication, there is no information on its website regarding SAR exceedances or updates.
Exposure to electromagnetic waves: a widely underestimated public health issue
The SAR measures the energy absorbed by the body when using a device. This latest incident highlights the urgent need to reduce user exposure, especially for professionals who are required to use such equipment on a daily basis for several hours at a time (security forces, healthcare workers, etc.). The health risks associated with electromagnetic waves, which are increasingly well documented, require strict compliance with standards by manufacturers and authorities.
CrossCall: A misleading response from the manufacturer
In response to this finding, CrossCall, at the request of ANFR, carried out a software update aimed at reducing the transmission power of its terminals, bringing the “limb” SAR down to 1.45 W/kg. However, this correction does not erase the seriousness of the initial exceedance, nor the issue of protecting users who have not performed the update. And as our real SAR calculator shows, the Core S5 has head and trunk SARs that exceed 7W/kg. Once again, we are faced with a clear regulatory failure!
DAS réel CrossCall Core S5
Actual SAR CrossCall Core S5
ANFR cheats on transparency
After our letter to ministers on March 11, 2025, no progress has been made: no report has been published, no clear response has been given. This lack of transparency persists even though thousands of professionals use these devices. The only positive point is the non-compliance report in the European ICSMS database dated April 16, 2025. It remains to be understood why ANFR then waited nearly two months to inform French users.
Strengthen regulations for exposed professionals
“There is an urgent need to strengthen regulations for professionals exposed to electromagnetic waves, particularly those who, like security forces or healthcare workers, use these devices on a daily basis. Their health cannot be relegated to the back seat in favor of industrial imperatives,” says Dr. Marc Arazi, president of Phonegate Alert.
Our NGO’s demands on public authorities
- Immediate publication of missing ANFR reports in the DATA database
- Transparent information for users on actual levels of exposure when in contact with the body
- Stronger controls on professional devices and prevention campaigns by public authorities
Sources:
- ANFR – CrossCall Core S5
- ANFR DATA database (numerous malfunctions, including the absence of non-compliance testing for the Core S5)
- Test report after update dated May 6, 2025
- Report in the European ICSMS database dated April 16, 2025
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