How dangerous is 5g really?
Everyone is talking about the new 5G network for Switzerland. With this new mobile communications standard, the industry hopes to be able to master the challenges of the ever-growing volume of data. However, experts warn of health hazards that could emanate from the unexplored 5G rays.
What is 5G and how fast is it?
The abbreviations 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G refer to different generations of mobile radio standards that differ primarily in data transmission speed. Currently, the network standards 2G to 4G are broadcast in Switzerland.
– With 2G, the 2nd generation of the mobile radio standard, 9.6 Kbit/s can be transmitted via download.
– 3G achieves download rates of 384 Kbit/s.
– 4G LTE is capable of transmitting up to 600 Mbps.
– And 5G? Speeds of up to 10 Gbit/s are to be achieved here.
Faster Internet has great potential for industry
One of the biggest digital trends is the Internet of Things (IoT). This refers to devices such as refrigerators that are connected to the Internet. Light bulbs or surveillance cameras integrated into WLANs are also among the – often artificially intelligent – things on the Internet.
Experts assume a rapid increase in the number of devices suitable for the Internet – for example in the household, security or industrial plant sector. This will inevitably lead to a greatly increased demand for data volumes.
Against this background, the introduction of a faster mobile communications standard is also an opportunity for the growth of the Internet of Things. Currently, many IoT devices are connected to the Internet via a domestic WLAN network. After the introduction of the powerful 5G network, many of these devices can then be connected directly to the mobile Internet and benefit from much higher transmission speeds. This can lead to an innovation push in the field of data intensive IoT devices.
5G could replace the fixed network
The imagination knows no bounds when it comes to the new mobile communications standard. 5G could really stir up the landline market. Basically, 5G would be strong enough to make fiber optic Internet redundant. Also telephoning over the WLAN connections, which are slow compared to 5G, would become uninteresting.
5G network: Danger to health?
Now you want to know: When will 5G arrive in Switzerland? Originally, the introduction of the new high-performance network was planned for the year 2020. However, the Swisscom 5G network should already be operational in the planned launch year 2020, according to the partially privatised state-owned company. As a first step, the 5G frequencies are to be auctioned off to mobile phone providers in autumn 2018.
However, numerous scientists and doctors are demanding a so-called moratorium. They want the introduction of 5G to be postponed indefinitely for the time being; at least until it has been researched whether radiation exposure to 5G is harmful to humans, animals and plants. The representatives of the so-called 5G Appeal, which was signed by 209 experts from all over the world, say that so far no sufficient research data are available. (as of June 2018) On the contrary: current results from radiation studies would suggest a danger to health.
The Swiss association “Ärztinnen und Ärzte für Umweltschutz” (AefU) says that short-wave radiation emitted by a 5G network is particularly problematic. The short waves are “absorbed by the skin with unknown consequences”. The AefU fear, for example, an increased risk of cancer in humans if 5G technology is introduced. The Swiss doctors are therefore also calling for a moratorium, i.e. a pause in the 5G expansion, in order to investigate the health risks of the new high-performance network.
Find your appropriate mobile phone subscription now. Up to 50% discount on your subscription.
We at alao.ch make it easy for you: On our independent comparison platform, you can keep track of the tariff jungle and easily find the mobile phone subscription that suits you best. We’ll help you find the tariff that suits you.
You order your subscription with just a few clicks and don’t even need a credit card! All we need from you is a copy of your ID and a selfie for identification. We’ll forward everything to the provider of your choice and you’ll soon have your new SIM card activated.
