5G Overview
and Safety
2020

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Introduction
5G is a term that started with one very precise definition, but over the past year has expanded inscope. Today when people talk about 5G and its benefits, they tend to focus on 5G NR which isthe new mobile standard that was released recently.
5G NR has some fancy differences in how the data is transferred when compared to 4G LTE, butmore of note are the frequency bands it will operate in. 5G NR as a mobile standard will for the firsttime operate in 28GHz and 38GHz, licensed bands that Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) use for
their networks. Other “5G” technologies operate in even higher frequencies, 60GHz (V band) and70/80GHz (E bands). These “Fixed 5G” frequencies are either unlicensed (V Band) or lightly licensed(E Band) around the world and are used for gigabit, fixed wireless Wide Area Networks.

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5G Safety
There have been concerns that operating in these higher frequencies is somehow inherently
unsafe or not healthy.
On the contrary, these frequencies penetrate the human body dramatically less than 4G LTE radiowaves do today. Indeed, this article from the NY Times makes that point – higher frequency waves
have less skin penetration than low frequency waves.
Fixed 5G which operates in the 60GHz band is even higher in frequency and hence less of a healthconcern. Not only do the systems being deployed in 60GHz have less penetrating ability, the power
levels and how close they are to the human body is substantially less than a typical cellular phone.
A Siklu 60Ghz radio, either EtherHaul or MultiHaul, operates at a peak power of 15dBm and isoutside your house or place of business. In contrast your cellular phone which you hold next toyour head, puts out 22dBm, your home AP 25dBm and your laptop Wi-Fi 15dBm.
The table below highlights these comparisons.
DeviceTransmitted
RF power

Typical distancefrom humans

Typicalfrequencies

Notes

Siklu EtherHaul™
60GHz radio (V-Band)

15dBm (32mW)>5 meter~ 60,000MHz

Typically installed outdoors sosuffers massive attenuation whenpenetrating indoors

Siklu MultiHaul™
60GHz radio (V-Band)

15dBm (32mW)>5 meter~ 60,000MHz

Typically installed outdoors sosuffers massive attenuation whenpenetrating indoors
Typically installed on commercial
roofs or towers, so suffers
massive attenuation fromdistance and penetrating indoors

Siklu EtherHaul™
80GHz radio (E-Band)

19dBm (79mW)>10 meter~ 80,000MHz

Mobile phone 1

22dBm (160mW)

0~ 850MHz~ 1,800MHz~ 2,550MHz

Bluetooth ear-piece

0dBm (1mW)

0~ 2,400MHz

Wi-Fi home gateway

Common: 25dBm(300mW); some devices:
30dBm (1000mW)22-3 meters~ 2,400MHz~ 5,800MHz

Laptop with WiFi30dBm (1000mW)

1 meter~ 2,400MHz~ 5,800MHz

2Max allowed: 30dBm (1000mW)3

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5G Acceptance
While it is always prudent to be careful when newtechnology is presented, in this case the science clearlyshows 5G, either NR or fixed, operating in the mmWave
bands is if anything safer than exiting mobile systems
today. Systems which have themselves been studied
and determined to be safe. Indeed, anecdotal evidenceof this abounds just by considering the widespread
regulatory acceptance of 60GHz globally.

The FCC, ETSI (EU) and Ofcom (UK) to name three ofthe largest regulators around the world have deemed
60GHz safe and have authorized its use. More countries
by the month are opening up these bands as they
conclude that 1) there is no health danger to thepopulace, and 2) the societal benefit from being able
to rapidly deploy gigabit networks to the underserved
around the world is too powerful to delay.

This does not take into account the Mobile 5G frequencies of 28GHz and 38GHz thatare allowed virtually everywhere in the world 5G is being deployed.

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Summary
Introducing new technology is never easy, and requiresthat the benefit be enough of an improvement over theprevious generation to warrant the money and effort.
This is especially true when we consider advances inwireless communications. It is well understood from
Wi-Fi and Mobile networks that easy access to highspeed wireless networks turbo charges economies andlevels the playing field for all to access. It is easy to see
how this is also true with mmWave Fixed 5G networks
in the 60GHz band. Being unlicensed accelerates
deployments, and drives massive capacity increases inthe last mile access networks.
Wireless evolution tends to face additional hurdles
as people are always concerned about radiation.
Fortunately, as has been demonstrated over theyears with 2G, 3G, 4G and now 5G these concerns are
not warranted. mmWave networks are the future of
wireless, and will be the backbone of gigabit wirelessnetworks around the world delivering gigabits for all.

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