Jad Abou Zeid

201820608

Impact of 5G on the Network Quality and on Public Health

The world is poised to change forever with the implementation of fifth-generation connectivity for
data networks across the world. 5G has been promised to be the savior to any connectivity
problems we've had in the past and it's also been highlighted as a path towards a fully wireless
future.

4G, our current networking infrastructure, brought about a major mobile revolution, allowing us to
stream high definition shows wherever and whenever we want. 5G will take that a step further.
Even though we're just moving from 4 to 5, the shift isn't just one step up, it's a major leap forward
in networking protocols. 

5G will bring faster data speeds, low latency communications, and higher data caps for mobile
devices. Major sports networks are already using 5G micro-networks to film and stream sporting
events live, completely wirelessly. Imagine a network of 30 4K cameras all on one network
streaming to a live broadcast – that's what 5G is capable of. 5G is expected to generate 10 trillion
USD of revenue by 2035. 

Technically speaking, 5G added lower and higher frequencies to the spectrum compared to 4G
networks. Doing this now allows 5G networks to handle 1 million devices per square kilometer,
compared to the 100,000 that 4G could handle, making everything faster and better.
 A defining capability of 5G is that it is designed for forward compatibility—the ability to
flexibly support future services that are unknown today:

Enhanced mobile broadband

In addition to making our smartphones better, 5G mobile technology can usher in new
immersive experiences such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) with faster,
more uniform data rates, lower latency, and lower cost-per-bit.

Mission-critical communications
5G can enable new services that can transform industries with ultra-reliable, available,
low-latency links like remote control of critical infrastructure, vehicles, and medical
procedures.

Massive Internet of Things (IoT)

5G is meant to seamlessly connect a massive number of embedded sensors in virtually
everything through the ability to scale down in data rates, power, and mobility—providing
extremely lean and low-cost connectivity solutions.

Employing millimeter waves and higher frequencies than previous technologies, 5G needs a much
more extensive network of antennas and other transmitting devices. Electromagnetic fields (EMF)
are invisible areas of energy measured in hertz (Hz). Longer wavelengths with lower frequency are
less powerful in terms of energy, while shorter wavelengths at higher frequencies are more
powerful. Depending on the frequency, there are two categories of EMF: ionizing and non-ionizing
radiation.

The issues with 5G arise as a result of its extremely high frequency which lies between 30 GHz to
300 GHz. Due to the higher frequencies, the waves do not travel vast distances, hence, antennas
must be erected closer to each other to provide clear 5G reception. We are not talking about a few
more antennas, but a lot more, exponentially more! Will these antennas cause health and
environmental risks?
Wireless companies and even government agencies such as the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention and the United States Environmental Protection Agency believe that radio waves
produced by 5G are safe, and they could be right. 5G networks use microwave and millimeter
wavelength radiations which are considered non-ionizing and don’t produce the kind of energy that
directly damages cells. It is ionizing radiation that is the harmful form, the energy from ionizing
radiation can pull apart atoms, and as such, it’s known to damage cells and cause cancer.
However, more than 215 scientists from 40 different countries have appealed to the United
Nations for urgent action to reduce the electromagnetic field exposure emitted from wireless
sources, even if they are non-ionizing. These scientists also submitted a letter to the Federal
Communications Commission (FCC) asking the body to consider health risks and environmental
issues before rapidly deploying a 5G wireless infrastructure, and they are not alone. The Belgian
government halted a 5G test in Brussels over the concerns about the radiation from the base
stations, members of the parliament in the Netherlands are calling on the government to further
examine 5G, while Switzerland is monitoring 5G’s impact on people.
The FCC does not seem to see a cause of concern, however, and the body is making sure that
the technology is deployed at the earliest. Meanwhile, U.S. president Trump has declared 5G roll
out a race that must be won.
So what is the outcome of all this? Who is right and who is wrong? It’s complicated. Although 5G
does not have ionizing radiation, some experts suspect that the radiation from these devices could
damage cells via oxidative stress in cells. This biological mechanism leads to inflammation and has
been found to cause cancer, diabetes, and other diseases.
For the time being, 5G seems safe, but there is simply not enough data to know for sure. Thus, it
is essential to halt the deployment of 5G wireless networks until a proper framework and guidelines
considering health hazards and environmental effects are prepared.