How Sustainable and dangerous do you think the 5G network would be?

How Sustainable and Dangerous Do You Think the 5G Network Would Be?

Hello, dear readers! Today I want to talk to you about a topic that has been generating a lot of buzz lately: the 5G network. You may have heard about it, or even seen some ads promoting it, but do you really know what it is and what it means for our future? In this blog post, I will try to explain the basics of 5G, its benefits and challenges, and why I think it is both sustainable and dangerous.

What is 5G?

5G stands for the fifth generation of mobile network technology. It is the successor of 4G, which is currently the most widely used network in the world. 5G promises to deliver faster speeds, lower latency, higher capacity, and more reliability than 4G. It also enables new applications and services that require high bandwidth and low latency, such as virtual reality, augmented reality, cloud gaming, smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and more.

How fast is 5G?

According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 5G should offer peak data rates of at least 20 gigabits per second (Gbps) for downlink and 10 Gbps for uplink. That means 5G is about 100 times faster than 4G, which has a peak data rate of 150 megabits per second (Mbps) for downlink and 50 Mbps for uplink. To put it in perspective, with 5G you could download a full HD movie in seconds, or stream 4K video without buffering.

How low is the latency of 5G?

Latency is the time it takes for data to travel from one point to another. It affects how responsive and smooth our online experiences are. For example, when you play an online game, you want the latency to be as low as possible, so that your actions are reflected on the screen without delay. The ITU defines the latency of 5G as one millisecond (ms) for ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), which is needed for critical applications such as remote surgery or autonomous driving. For enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), which is used for high-speed data transmission, the latency of 5G should be less than 10 ms. That is about 10 times lower than the latency of 4G, which is around 100 ms.

How high is the capacity of 5G?

Capacity is the amount of data that can be transmitted or received in a given area or time. It affects how many users and devices can be connected to the network without compromising the quality of service. The ITU specifies that 5G should support at least one million devices per square kilometer (km2), which is about 100 times more than 4G, which can support up to 10,000 devices per km2. This means that 5G can accommodate the massive growth of Internet of things (IoT) devices, such as sensors, cameras, wearables, smart appliances, etc.

How reliable is 5G?

Reliability is the ability of the network to deliver data without errors or interruptions. It affects how trustworthy and consistent our online activities are. For example, when you make a video call, you want the reliability to be high so that you don't experience dropped calls or frozen screens. The ITU states that 5G should have a packet error rate of less than one in a billion for URLLC, which is needed for safety-critical applications such as industrial automation or emergency response. For eMBB, which is used for high-quality media transmission, the packet error rate of 5G should be less than one in a hundred thousand.

Why is 5G sustainable?

One of the main goals of 5G is to improve the energy efficiency of the network and reduce its environmental impact. According to a report by Ericsson, a leading telecom company, 5G can reduce energy consumption per bit by up to 90% compared to 4G. This is achieved by using advanced technologies such as massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), beamforming, network slicing, edge computing, etc., which enable more efficient use of spectrum and resources. Moreover, 5G can enable new solutions for environmental monitoring and management, such as smart agriculture, smart water management, smart waste management, etc., which can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and conserve natural resources.

Why is 5G dangerous?

5G is the latest network of wireless technology that uses higher frequencies than previous generations. Some people are concerned that 5G could have negative health effects, such as cancer, cellular stress, or genetic damage. However, there is no conclusive evidence that 5G is harmful to people. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the frequencies used in 5G are too low to cause significant tissue heating or ionizing radiation. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also states that there are no known health risks linked to 5G. However, some doctors and scientists have called for a moratorium on the 5G rollout, citing potential health dangers based on peer-reviewed scientific literature. The debate on 5G safety is still ongoing, and more research is needed to fully understand its effects on humans and the environment.