5G Safety
Safety of 5G Networks: An Overview
5G is the next generation of wireless mobile networks that was adopted by 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the same organization that is responsible for 3G UMTS and 4G LTE. As the data and connectivity continues to grow every minute, organizations have designed a way on how to meet the demands of a plethora of connected devices (IoT). Unlike its predecessor, 4G LTE, 5G offers more improved bandwidth, capacity, and reliability of wireless broadband services. It promises transformative mobility by offering an enhanced mobile broadband experience and enabling the mass digitization of businesses and industries.
Furthermore, 5G offers faster network speeds and lower latency between devices and servers compared to the other wireless networks. Plus, it provides users with the advantage of increased device connections, and edge computing. It does not overlap with 4G or Wimax. Despite the rise of 5G networks, there are still rules and limits set in safety standards to further understand and investigate the health effects, if there are proven to be any.
5G Health Concerns
Over the years, research has been conducted to determine if radio signals pose any health risks to its users. Now, as the 5G networks become more commonplace, people have questions and concerns about its health risks and potential hazards. A common complaint about 5G is that, due to the lower power of 5G transmitters, there will be more of them. As the news broke out that 5G will utilize multiple frequencies, people are alarmed due to the users’ health concerns.
Myths around the safety of 5G technology have gained some media traction. Fortunately, science already tells us that 5G almost certainly poses no danger to humans.
On the other hand, according to the FDA, the evidence collected does not directly illustrate an association between the adverse health outcomes and the exposure to radiofrequency from mobile phones. Studies from organizations including the World Health Organization have all shown that 5G isn’t harmful to health.
5G Safety and Security
Being the latest generation of wireless mobile network, 5G is more secure due to better encryption and improved network slicing, making it a better network than its predecessors. It offers a number of advantages such as low latency, which allows businesses to deploy devices that respond to human or machine-initiated input in the shortest fraction of time possible. 5G has designed security controls to address many of the threats faced in today’s 4G/3G/2G networks. Using this network, users’ identity are completely encrypted, ensuring that their permanent ID won’t be exposed.
On the other hand, despite the efforts of various organizations and standard bodies to enhance security, there are still vulnerabilities. In order for the network to successfully handle attacks, a decentralized security is required. Advanced security features in 5G protocols and technologies will improve communications security but will require proper configuration and implementation. The good news is that the challenges to cybersecurity in 5G networks can be overcome, providing a solid basis for innovation by parties worldwide to deliver the full promise of this technology.
With the adoption of 5G services, there are inherent opportunities and risks of which companies that benefit most will be those that consider every layer of 5G services.