Understanding 5G
Safety relies on accurate assessment of human exposure to 5G
The latest generation of mobile network technology, 5G, opens up exciting new possibilities for a range of technologies, including the Internet of Things (IoT) and augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR). It promises greater capacity, as well as much faster download speeds than the current 4G networks. It will take seconds rather than minutes currently needed to load the HD version of a three-hour movie like Avengers: Endgame.
In terms of infrastructure, 5G is very different to previous networks. It uses a new beam steering technology that connects users through smaller, more directional radio signals from the base station, rather than a wider signal that is sent to all mobiles. Beam steering is more efficient as it can connect more users through the smaller radio signals and this actually reduces the overall exposure. It works a bit like a theatre usher showing someone to her seat with the help of a small pencil beam torch, rather than switching on the full theatre lighting. Since the overall lighting is low, ushers can seat people without disturbing others.
5G works in-conjunction with 4G and will use a combination of existing mobile base stations and new small cells on street poles, lampposts and buildings as the technology evolves and more people need connection. It is therefore of crucial importance to use the most accurate, reliable and proven methods to evaluate human exposure to radio frequency fields in the vicinity of base stations.
“5G is set to revolutionize wireless communications and play a major role in our future connected society and facilitate the road towards a more advanced Internet of Things,” says Mike Wood, who chairs the IEC Technical Committee which prepares international standards on measurement and calculation methods to assess human exposure to electric, magnetic and electromagnetic fields. Committee members include global experts from mobile operators, mobile manufacturers, academia, government regulators and testing laboratories.
Huge potential benefits
“Knowing the importance of 5G and wireless communications on a global scale is what drives our experts, who dedicate many hours including significant personal time to work on international standardization,” Wood told e-tech.
When fully deployed, the technology will not only increase downloading and uploading speeds over the mobile network, but also provide the connection for billions of IoT devices, as well as reducing latency, which is the time that networks take to respond. This opens a wide range of new possibilities in robotics, vehicle and automotive safety systems, and remote medical applications.
In a practical sense, it will drastically lessen the annoyance of time spent buffering on your mobile device and provide a far better customer experience. More importantly, trials carried out around the world have already highlighted the massive potential benefits for industrial and medical applications. Earlier this year, the Chinese media reported on 5G assisting remote brain surgery on a patient 3 000 kilometres away. Surgical operations using robot arms in remote locations would be impossible on conventional 4G networks because of the delays.
5G field trials are well underway and a number of operators are already launching networks. 5G initially supported by 4G will serve as the much-needed communications backbone for the ever continuing growth in data and connectivity, from the billions of connected IoT devices, to self-driving cars and smart cities. Human safety and device compliance are obviously essential and this is an area where IEC work is well advanced. The IEC is playing a key role with the recent publication of a new echnical Report on evaluating human exposure to radio frequency fields in the vicinity of base stations. It follows the publication of a new standard in 2017.
Safety relies on accurate data
The standard provides methods for determining the radio-frequency field strength near radio-communication base stations with the intention of evaluating human exposure. It takes into account the mmWave frequencies to be used for 5G networks.
The 2019 technical report covers both 5G base stations and small cells. It provides a vital resource for network operators deploying 5G by illustrating test methods and worked examples on 5G trial sites. The report helps stakeholders — including facility managers, building owners and governments and local communities — to ensure that they are testing their networks and base stations correctly. The benefits are threefold. It demonstrates new testing methods for 5G, improves global consistency and accuracy for base station and small cell tests, and simplifies the implementation of site RF safety assessments through worked examples.
“As 5G advances at a rapid rate and networks are deployed, testing base stations to ensure they meet the radio frequency (RF) exposure standards is an essential step for operators, regulators and the community, providing a reassurance on safety,” said Wood.
