5G, RF and the future of Mobile Telecommunications

Assessment and impact of Electromagnetic Energy associated with 5G

Science & Wireless Conference

28 November 2018

Mike WoodChairman - AMTA EME H&S Committee

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Presentation Overview

5G is here

5G working with 4G

5G & EME Safety

Exposure Standards

5G EME Assessments

EME – what does 5G add?

Future technologies

Observations and Conclusions

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5G is here

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5G Standards are ready 5G trials continue Spectrum Auctions November 2017 5G Network designs well underway EME testing – well progressed

2019 – 3.5GHz launch2019 - Fixed Wireless devices2020 > Mobiles2020 > 27GHz mmWave

So where are we at?

5G will work with 4G

• 5G works together with 4G (initially non standalone NSA)

• 4G acts as control plane

• 5G acts as data/user plane

• 5G will operate stand alone in later releases

5G

4G

5G

4G

5G - 3.5GHz 5G – mmWave 27GHz4Key Point - 5G is an evolution and needs 4G

5G and EME Safety

• RF Human Exposure Guidelines - cover frequencies used for 5G- 3.5GHz initial 5G (same band as current mobile)- 27GHz future 5G (mmWave)

• mmWave is not new - used for decades – radar, satellite, microwave communications

• Extensive research - conducted at frequencies used for 5G

• 5G is more efficient- 5G networks are designed to be very efficient- Network and device power must be low to achieve efficiency - means low levels of EME

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EME Exposure Standards Update – UN Workshop

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EME Exposure Standards Update

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EME Exposure Standards Update – UN Workshop

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EME Exposure Standards Update – UN Workshop

UN Workshop recommended global adoption of the ICNIRP guidelines

Countries that have adopted arbitrary non ICNIRP limits reported that they can not deploy 5G due to restrictive assessments impacting economic growth and benefits to societies

https://news.itu.int/5g-electromagnetic-field/

5G EME Assessment Standards

• Base Stations- EME Assessment Standards are ready- methods have been developed for realistic exposure evaluations- case studies illustrating assessment methods are ready- all base stations will be assessed to Australian Standards RPS3

Compliance CertificateEnvironmental EME reportEME Guide – for safe work www.rfnsa.com.au

• Devices- Existing EME Assessment Standards will be used for 3.5GHz- new methods have been developed for future mmWave testing- devices will be tested to ACMA regulations & international standards

5G EME assessments

• Dedicated radio signal towards the user

A 4G signal is typically spread across a wide area

• Enabled by Massive MIMO technology

Note Massive MIMO is already working in 4G

• Identifies most efficient signal path

• Improves connection reliability

• Reduces interference (unwanted signals)

• Efficient use of spectrum and power

• Allows more simultaneous data streams

Key Point – Beamforming is more efficient and reduces average RF exposure levels

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5G Technology – Beamforming live example

Beamforming - Example from Telstra’s 5G Trial in Melbourne 2016green dots show active beams connected to 5G Van driving in carpark

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Beamforming – live measurement of EME reduction

Beamforming EME TestOptus 4G 2300MHz network in Melbourne with a MIMO beam steering antenna, 7 Narda SRM monitors measured the EME levels in front of the antenna with live traffic 12

4G MIMO Beam steering antenna

4G Panelantennas

7 Narda Probes in front of MIMO antenna

Results show approximate reduction in average EME levels of 10 times with beam steering compared to a normal antenna

5G Device

5G 27GHzIndoor Antenna

5G Device

5G eSportsDemonstration

5G Indoor EME measurements

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Near (~0.45 m) Walkie Talkie

~0.3 m from 5G user equipment (UE)

Measurements at different positions

ARPANSA / ICNIRP public limit

IBC IBC

4G inc laptopbaby monitor 5G levels inside

Environmental EME levels - indoor

5G

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4G3G 4G4G 4G 4G

Highest exposure

Cumulative: 27MHz to 3GHz 1.34%

3G, 4G, Wi-Fi 0.025%

5G (near UE antenna) 0.032%

5G (general environment) 0.012%

carpark

pizza shop

5G - 27 GHz antennas

44 m radio tower

Southport exchange

https://www.google.com.au/maps/@-27.974846,153.3818768,14z

5G sector bearings

Pizza Shop

5G Outdoor EME measurements

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5G Device

5G 27GHzIndoor Antenna

5G Device

5G eSportsDemonstration

5G Outdoor EME measurements

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Sum of car mounted 5G UE + BS @ 0.3 m from car, carpark

Towards BS, carpark

Towards BS, pizza shop

Sum of car mounted 5G UE + BS @ 1.5 m from car, carpark

ARPANSA / ICNIRP public limit

Measurements at different positions

Environmental EME levels - outdoor

5G

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4G3G 4G4G 4G 4G

Highest exposure

Cumulative: 27MHz to 3GHz

0.19%

5G 0.025%

5G Device

5G 27GHzIndoor Antenna

5G Device

5G eSportsDemonstration

Testing 5G outdoors – 3.5GHz

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5G Sector 2

Centre Footpath

5G

4G

3G & 4G = 0.14 %5G = 0.015 %

Average EME LevelsNear apartment

apartment

5G Device

5G 27GHzIndoor Antenna

5G Device

5G eSportsDemonstration

Testing 5G (3.5GHz) outdoors – Spectrum Plot

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5G4G4G3G

5G

4G

Overall EME LevelsAll mobile technologies including 5G significantly below ARPANSA RPS3 / ICNIRP limits

What does 5G add?Indoor & Small cells – similar EME to current technology (more data/ more users)Outdoors Macro cells – similar EME to current macro technology (more data/ more users)

5G is more efficient – more data/users for same power. (Will replace older technology)

Many more devices – no significant increase in environmental/background EME- devices will have increased efficiency- devices will comply with EME limits- EME levels from devices decrease very rapidly with distance- many devices have intermittent transmission (low EME)

5G & EME - Observations from testing

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5G & EME – what it means for RF exposure

Key Points1. 5G uses radio frequency like existing mobile technologies and many other radio services e.g.

TV, FM, emergency and commercial radio services, microwave links & satellite

2. Significant evolution of 4G technology – greater efficiency

3. Typical EME levels from all networks (3G, 4G, 5G) and devices in everyday use will remain low

5G Devices Must comply with safety standards very efficient & low levels of EME

5G Networks Very efficient - EME levels in public areas will be well

below safety standards - many more connections

Environmental EME levels may increase slightly (near to sites) with the addition of 5G networks

EME Compliance zone evaluation – actual EME levels under investigation with results to date showing levels well below theoretical maximum

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Future Technologies

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Future Wireless technologies will continue the development for greater efficiency

EME compliance will continue to be a key focus

Thank you

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contact@amta.org.au