Fear of radio waves is a century-long scare. Nonetheless, the newest concern revolving around the safety of 5G networks has the broadest following due to the enormous influence of social media channels and rampant conspiracy theories.
What is 5G?
The first mention of 5G came more than ten years ago when tech companies that work with networks started working on the next generation of the mobile phone network. Although 4G already brings a satisfying speed, 5G can be up to ten times faster. Perhaps even more significant than the speed is the low latency of the 5G network that opens up a vast world of utilizing the technology in the industry and for other purposes.
5G will benefit autonomous vehicles by allowing instant and fast communication. And the new networks are also an excellent infrastructure for the Internet of Things because of their higher capacity. Industry 4.0 will also benefit from low latency and high speeds. As for the gaming industry, 5G will bring joy and satisfaction to the consumers. Most developed countries have a couple of live networks, which puts Canada on the top among the early adopters of 5G. Bell, Rogers and Telus have up and running 5G networks.
The 5G low latency aspect has attracted many developers and brands to experience new features like VR or AR gaming. Especially those who built their business on the “offline” experiences – like casinos. Next time you visit a Canadian online casino, you might have a unique mixed reality gaming experience that the 5G network could enable on a count of its technical capabilities needed to provide a real-time virtual response.
Top Concerns for Opponents of 5G
The biggest problem for 5G skeptics are wavelengths. These new waves are not tested yet, and it seems that the population will serve as test subjects in a giant experiment. Such claims got debunked numerous times, and it is not true that 5G networks were not tested.
Another underlying technology concern is with millimetre waves and a high frequency that will cause dangerous radiation. 5G wavelength is shorter, which means it can cover smaller distances, and base stations will get scattered with more density. However, there is no medical evidence that wavelengths with higher frequency could harm 5G consumers. What opponents of 5G don’t understand is that higher frequency doesn’t equate to higher intensity.
Among conspiracy theories, the one that stands out is about 5G weakening our immune system. Still, some went even further, claiming that 5G phone towers are spreading viruses to humans. Such theories led to a couple of events where people attacked 5G antennas and caused substantial damage.
Electromagnetic radiation scare has been present for decades demonizing power grids, microwave ovens and other products in the past.
Did You Know 6G Is on the Way?
While 5G networks are slowly rolling out despite significant opposition, researchers in numerous countries are already working on 6G network concepts. Universities, telecom operators and states are collaborating on these initiatives, and we could expect the first 6G tests in five to seven years and functional network in around ten years. So far, researchers have set goals for an even faster and more responsive network. However, there is no consensus on which technologies will allow the development of new networks. Meanwhile, the implementation of 5G network must fight with the sceptics by debunking often ludicrous theories about the latest mobile network standard.
