Future Tech & Continuing Controversy: Lifting The Haze Around 5G

Did I hear someone mention 5G? These days those two little characters certainly comprise a push-button topic — one that is likely to elicit heated debate within any social circle. With so much swirling furor on social media, it can be tricky to discern what lies at the core of the issue. To try to bring a little clarity to the table, we’ve been digging in to what we really know about 5G, and why so many are keen to see it succeed, or fail. Wherever you sit on the spectrum, from 5G fan to foe, perhaps something we’ve dug up will shed new light, and allow you to feel empowered as wireless technology continues to evolve.

The Next Generation Of Inter-connectivity

With 5G comes the fifth generation of telecoms communication, the anticipated follow-up to 4G, which rolled out in 2009. It promises to be faster, more reliable, capable of serving a far larger number of devices, with greater coverage. To give a sense of the speed 5G users will be able to expect, the Consumer Technology Association highlighted that it will mean being able to download a two-hour movie in just 3.6 seconds, in comparison to 6 minutes via 4G, or an agonising 26 hours back in the days of 3G. This entails not only greater bandwidth — the speed with which data can be transferred — but reduced latency, which is the minute delays between individual data transfers. All of this will be achieved through the combination of several advancements, and will facilitate not only faster internet for individual users, but enhanced potential for modern tech such as smart homes, driverless cars, and a vast ecosystem of connected IoT (Internet of Things) devices.

The Specifics Of 5G Technology

While 4G base stations must constantly switch between transmitting and receiving modes, 5G base stations will be able to both send and receive data at the same time. They will also harness MIMO technology, which stands for “multiple-input, multiple-output”, allowing one base station to talk to multiple devices simultaneously, without — once again — having to constantly switch between them. Alongside MIMO comes the integration of beamforming, or directing wireless signals directly at the devices in question, reducing local interference. These kinds of innovations, alongside the switch to “millimeter waves”, collectively contribute to a super speedy network that requires only 10% of the power of it’s predecessor.

Those millimeter waves are one of the main elements of controversy within the 5G debate. Previous telecom iterations harnessed radio waves that sat within bands under 6GHz. Millimeter waves, in contrast broadcast at higher frequencies, between 30 and 300 GHz. The other aspect of 5G that is causing a fair amount of concern is that new base stations will be far closer together. Millimeter waves struggle with getting through solid objects, so 5G will require a new network of “small cells” — or miniature base stations — that will be required at about every 250 meters throughout dense urban areas. To frame worries about 5G, it’s important to step back and view the long-term controversy surrounding wireless technology as a whole. While 5G related headlines may be easy to spot in today’s realm of information sharing, concerns about radio-frequency radiation, or RFR, are certainly nothing new.

What’s The Worry With Wireless?

All wireless technology relies on a form of radiation to function. When we think of radiation, we might imagine the atomic bomb, but the term encompasses everything across the electromagnetic spectrum of wave frequencies — from low wave radio frequencies, through microwaves, infrared, the visible light spectrum, ultraviolet, X-rays, and finally gamma rays at the serious end of the spectrum. Where each wave type sits on this scale is dictated by it’s frequency. Most of the spectrum is non-ionizing, while those sitting at the top of the spectrum are ionizing — meaning that they hold the capacity to split electrons away from atoms, thereby causing cellular damage. Ionizing forms of radiation span from the UV rays that cause us sunburn at the beach, through to gamma rays which arise from the radioactive decay of atomic nuclei. Millimeter waves sit far down this spectrum — below even the waves that allow us to see when in daylight. So, what’s the concern? In reality, it lies less in what we do know about RFR, than it does in what we don’t know.

Epidemiologist and writer Dr. Devra Davis can perhaps be attributed with leading world efforts towards understanding the potential hazards of RFRs better. She has a notable array of collaborations under her belt, including with the World Health Organisation, the United Nations, the International Monetary Foundation, and the Bill Clinton administration. Today she serves at the helm of Environmental Health Trust, an organization that seeks to draw valuable attention to man-made health threats. In this role, she has been instrumental in the enacting, collating, and calling for, research on wireless technology. As she frequently expresses in her lectures all over the world, due to our unprecedented adoption of RFR dependent technology, we are, scientifically speaking, failing to keep up with our own technology — in terms of understanding possible impacts. She highlights the lack of data available, and the challenges of studying such a rapidly evolving situation.

Moving Into The Unknown

Davis raises concern over studies that have unequivocally demonstrated negative impact on sperm count of men who keep their phones in their pockets, and research that has suggested connection between breast cancer, and women who keep their phones in their bras. She also highlights laboratory tests on rodents which saw prenatal exposure to RFR result in reduced hippocampal development in later life — which raises concerns over wireless technology exposure for women during pregnancy, and for young children who are very much still developing. At present, we do not have any evidence that sub- guideline exposure to RFR poses a health threat, however we cannot entirely rule out the possibility that some risk may exist.

On the topic, the World Health Organisation assert that: “A number of studies have investigated the effects of radio-frequency fields on brain electrical activity, cognitive function, sleep, heart rate and blood pressure in volunteers. To date, research does not suggest any consistent evidence of adverse health effects from exposure to radio-frequency fields at levels below those that cause tissue heating.” This can be clarified when we imagine the microwave — a machine that functions through high powered RFR that has been specifically tuned to heat water. Wireless devices operate at a much lower power level. The WHO go on to state that “Further, research has not been able to provide support for a causal relationship between exposure to electromagnetic fields and self-reported symptoms, or “electromagnetic hypersensitivity”. This refers to the small cross-section of society who report physical symptoms in relation to RFR exposure.

Making Responsible Assessments

In response to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifying radio-frequency electromagnetic fields as possibly carcinogenic to humans, the WHO established guidelines for RFR exposure in terms of Specific Absorption Rate in 2011. Of particular ongoing concern is investigation into the possibility that device exposure could lead to the development of brain tumours. A large retrospective study, titled Interphone, and coordinated by the IARC, found no evidence that mobile phone use led to cancer over a 10 year period, but Davis points out that in terms of carcinogenicity, the manifestation of tumors caused by the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima was not fully evident until 40 years after the fact. With such widespread use of such young technology, the data to understand cause and effect simply does not exist yet. Specifically in relation to 5G, Davis shared that: “Unfortunately, we’re being sold something for which there are no standards.” As damming as this may sound, she is both pragmatic, and technologically tooled up!

On a regulatory level, Davis is seeking the development of telecommunication technology that presents lower potential risk, alongside increased scrutiny and regulation of new and existing technologies. On an individual level, Davis praises pre-emptive measures such as the use of wired networking — as opposed to wireless — in nurseries, schools, and colleges. She encourages parents to keep devices away from young children, and adults to minimise their exposure as far as possible, via steps such as not carrying your phone when it is not in use, and using loudspeaker or hands-free sets with phones. She asks: “Do you really want to have to prove that there’s a significant increased risk of brain cancer, before taking steps to reduce exposures, to prevent that harm from happening? That’s really the question. How much evidence do we need, before taking precautionary steps?” Fundamentally ,as we move forwards into the next phase of our planet’s technological evolution, we can certainly be excited about the new wave of potential that is about to unfold, but we must also ensure that our science is given the momentum and resources to catch up.

Harnessing Technology For Greater Prosperity

Take advantage of an App that will grow your wealth without the need for more screen time. GRAYLL aims to facilitate a balance between using technology to enrich our lives, while creating holistic prosperity through greater understanding of our place within the modern world. GRAYLL taps into the vast processing power of Artificial Intelligence — allowing App users to invest and grow capital, of any amount, with no expert knowledge or time commitment required. Within a fast evolving society, allow GRAYLL to help you achieve greater health, wealth, and happiness.

Follow GRAYLL on Telegram, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to receive our latest dispatches.

GRAYLL is an innovative Recession Proof & Anti-Fragile system. Investors, traders, savers and pensioners using GRAYLL have a significant advantage in these catastrophic financial markets exacerbated by the COVID-19 Coronavirus crisis. Watch the GRAYLL App in action!💥