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This article discusses how progress in new telecommunications technologies can trigger debate in society. It highlights the need for greater citizen participation and the use of scientific mediation to address the challenges posed by technology and its implications. The city of Nantes has taken a participatory approach to the roll-out of 5G, by seeking to engage citizens in societal debate. The mediation, undertaken by the authorities, played a crucial role in helping citizens grasp the complexity of the issues related to this technology. A preliminary preparatory mission, involving actors in the public sector, academia, and science, resulted in the development of a decoding document which was used to shed light on the public debate. Subsequently, a participatory process, which was open to the general public, helped to build trust between science and society by engaging citizens in dialogue and enhancing the public’s scientific literacy on the subject. The ultimate goal was to integrate scientific knowledge into democratic debate and use a combination of academic and general knowledge to make the authorities’ position clear.