Questions and answers on 5G and health
In connection with the rollout of 5G, questions have arisen about possible health effects. TechSverige has therefore produced answers to some of the most common questions about 5G and health.
Are there safety requirements regarding exposure to electromagnetic fields (radio waves) that 5G equipment must meet?
The same requirements that apply to other radio equipment, such as legacy mobile systems (2G/GSM, 3G, 4G), also apply to 5G. The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) limits cover all the frequency ranges that will be used for 5G.
How do manufacturers and mobile operators ensure that 5G equipment meets the safety requirements for electromagnetic exposure?
Manufacturers test all new radio equipment, including 5G, according to international standards and provide information on how to install it to meet safety requirements. Mobile phone operators install their equipment (antennas) so that exposure to electromagnetic fields cannot exceed regulatory limits anywhere the public may be present. If more than one operator has antennas in the same location, the installations are coordinated so that the exposure to electromagnetic fields can still not exceed the regulatory limits in any location where the public may be present.
There are claims that 5G is dangerous. Is this true?
5G is an evolution of the current mobile system. It is a very similar technology but more efficient, i.e. more information can be sent faster with less energy consumption. The radio signals are of the same type and the same safety requirements apply. The World Health Organization (WHO), the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) and the Public Health Agency of Sweden (FHM) all agree that there is no known health impact with the international limits applied in Sweden.
In Australia, the 5G rollout is further advanced than in Sweden, and the radiation safety authority ARPANSA has published factual information stating, among other things, that "contrary to some claims, there are no established health effects from the radio waves used by the 5G network".
Click here to access the ARPANSA website.
If 5G and other radio technologies are safe, why are there limits and safety requirements?
Radio waves contain energy which, at very high exposure levels, can lead to heating of the body to levels which in turn can lead to health effects. All radio equipment and its use must therefore meet requirements that ensure exposure is below limits set with a good safety margin. Click here to go to the website of the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority.
5G can use high frequency bands, known as millimeter waves, which are already used in other countries. How do millimeter waves affect people?
Initially, the broad 5G rollout in Sweden will be done in lower frequency bands, close to the frequency bands currently used for 4G. As for millimeter waves, it will take a number of years before these bands become available in Sweden. They will mainly be used where high capacity is needed, for example for various industrial applications. Millimeter waves have been used for decades for various radio applications, and there are limits set for these frequency bands as well. Click here to go to the website of the Public Health Agency of Sweden.
Will 5G mean many more antenna sites and much higher radio wave exposure in our environment?
5G antennas will primarily be placed where current mobile antennas are installed, but in some cases new locations will be needed to ensure sufficient coverage and performance. Electromagnetic exposure from 5G will be at similar levels as from current mobile networks, and the overall level in homes and public places will remain well below the limits.
5G uses so-called 'Massive MIMO' technology, can it lead to any health risks?
Massive MIMO, also known as "beamforming", means that the transmitted power can be distributed in different directions so that it is only transmitted in areas where users are located. With current technology, the output power is transmitted throughout the coverage area of the antenna. The new technology reduces the exposure in the coverage area on average.