Everything we need to know about 5G

You will have heard it advertised by domestic mobile phone companies, but also accused of a cart of troubles. What exactly is 5G, how will it change our lives and what are the risks? If it brings.

What is 5G?

5G represents the next generation of mobile connection, bringing higher data speeds, higher bandwidth and very low latency, so that “sensitive” devices, such as device and video game remote controls, have an immediate response. The average speed of the 5G network ranges from 150-200Mbps, while the maximum will reach 1Gbps.

This practically means that we will be able to “download” a full HD movie in about 3 minutes, while on a 4G network the corresponding time is 15 minutes. 5G is expected to contribute to a wide range of new applications, including enhancing e-health (telemedicine, remote monitoring, telesurgery).

What is the difference with previous technologies?

5G represents an evolution in telecommunications standards. For increased performance, 5G will be extended to higher frequencies, from about 3.5 GHz to a few tens of GHz. Higher frequencies are new to mobile networks, but are commonly used in other applications, such as point-to-point radios and body scanners for security checks.

At these higher frequencies, 5G networks will use a larger number of bases and connected objects. 5G will also use newer type beams (beam-forming antennas) to focus signals more efficiently on the device used each time, instead of having the signal “spread” in wide directions, as is the case with current antennas.

What is “Internet of Things” and how does it connect to 5G?

In a broader sense, the term IoT includes everything connected to the Internet, but is increasingly used to define objects that “talk” to each other. Simply put, the Internet of Things is made up of devices: from simple sensors to smartphones and mobile devices that are interconnected. Its commercial success is mainly related to its performance, which depends on how fast it can communicate with other IoT devices. With 5G, data transfer speeds will increase significantly and this increase in speed will allow IoT devices to communicate and share data faster than ever before.

What are the levels of exposure to 5G radiation?

Currently, the radiation from exposure to 5G antennas at around 3.5GHz is similar to that of existing mobile antennas. With the use of multiple beams from 5G antennas, the radiation will be variable and will depend on factors such as the user’s location and the use of the services it provides. As 5G antenna installations are limited, the exact change in radiation that users will be exposed to is still under investigation.

Are there any health risks from 5G?

According to the WHO, to date, and after much research has been done, no adverse health effects have been linked to exposure to wireless technologies. Health-related conclusions are drawn from studies conducted across the spectrum, but so far only a few studies have been conducted on the frequencies that 5G will use.

Tissue heating is the main mechanism of interaction between radio frequency fields and the human body. Radiofrequency exposure levels from current technologies result in a negligible increase in temperature in the human body. As the frequency increases, there is less penetration into the tissues of the body and the absorption of energy is limited to the surface of the body (skin and eyes). Provided that the overall report follows international guidelines, no public health consequences are expected.

For its part, the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) said it had found no evidence that 5G technologies pose a risk to human health. 

It is safe;

According to Kaspersky, 5G cybersecurity needs some significant improvements to avoid intrusion risks. The company’s concern arises both from the network itself and from the devices connected to 5G. Dynamic systems based on 5G software have many more traffic routing points, so to be completely secure, all of these points must be monitored. Also, its huge speed and the volume of data it transmits raises the bar of “shielding” for hacker protection teams.

Also, the fact that thanks to 5G can connect millions of devices with different levels of security (smart TVs, locks, refrigerators, speakers, etc.), the risk of “security gaps” increases and violations may be uncontrollable. In any case, these security vulnerabilities can be fixed, as long as companies and developers take care of them.

Who gives the international guidelines?

Two international organizations provide guidelines for exposure to electromagnetic fields and most countries comply with them: the

International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, through the International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety.

These guidelines cover radio frequencies up to 300 GHz, including frequencies covered by 5G.

There is a lot of contradictory information about 5G and health on the Internet. How do I know what to trust?

When looking at information on the Internet or any other source, it is important to be able to distinguish between advocacy and impartial evaluation of research. An unbiased evaluation starts without preliminary conclusions, examines all relevant research, evaluates their strengths and weaknesses and draws conclusions based on this evaluation. An advocate, on the other hand, presents selected information to support a particular point of view and does not attempt to weigh the advantages of opposing views.

The above also applies to the “scientists’ appeals” for 5G. Science is not conducted by objection or vote, but by careful analysis of the evidence. The views of scientists are just as strong as the evidence presented to support them.

When evaluating the views presented, before deciding anything, ask the following questions:

What experience do the authors have? Does it cover the range required for a complete evaluation of the relevant literature (for example, biology, epidemiology, engineering / physics, statistics) or is it limited to the scope or is it done by one person?

What is the stated purpose of the report / website? Does it aim for a balanced evaluation or does it support a specific view?

Did the authors complete a systematic search for their research literature or do they refer only to the literature that supports a particular view?

How was the quality of the research literature evaluated?

Does it present information in an unbiased manner or does it use emotional appeal?

The requirements for a fair assessment are similar to the obligations of a special witness in court. The main task is impartiality and not advocacy in one aspect. So the court, and in this case we, must identify not only the facts that support an opinion, but also the material that can refute it.

Is the coronavirus due to 5G?

No. COVID-19 is caused by a virus that is transmitted from one infected person to another. There is also no evidence that exposure to radio waves, including those from 5G transmitters, at levels that comply with exposure limits could weaken the immune system and make people more vulnerable to infections. Humans are infected with COVID-19 regardless of whether or not there are 5G transmitters in the area where they live.