May 2020

45 www.drivesncontrols.com May 2020 T he fifth generation of wireless communication protocols – more commonly known as 5G – has been the recent victim of umpteen conspiracy theories. Yes, it is a new technology and the first time that millimetre waves are being employed, but it is a technology that is still in its infancy, and thus too soon to link it directly to these conspiracies. Instead, it is essential that we focus on the facts we know about 5G. First and foremost, 5G is not designed to replace 4G at this point. Both protocols are intended to operate in parallel and have different use case scenarios. As we move into a world filled with IoT devices, and as Industry 4.0 is adopted more widely by manufacturers, 5G is the enabler that will allow industries to connect greater numbers of devices. These devices will be able to communicate with each other and with other devices to allow near-real- time exchange of information. 5G waves are known as millimetre waves because this is the unit that is used to measure their wavelengths. The 5G waves are shorter than those of 4G, which means their area of coverage is more limited. This is why we need to erect new masts to increase 5G’s coverage. With more masts and shorter wavelengths, what does this mean for the data itself? You guessed it: rapid transmission speeds. Faster transmission means access to files from cloud servers will be quicker than ever, allowing the capability for close-to-real-time remote intervention. While 5G promises to achieve speeds that are 100 times faster than 4G, speed is by no means its only benefit. Latency, while similar to speed, is another benefit of 5G technology. It refers to the elapsed time taken by an order or signal to pass from one device to another. 5G supposedly has a latency of 1 millisecond – much lower than that of 4G. This makes it possible to be able to control devices remotely and boost productivity on all communicating devices. We have established what makes 5G faster than 4G, but is it a danger? This seems to be the hot topic of many 5G-related discussions. There is no solid evidence that any mobile communications technology can have a harmful effect on the human body or our health. 5G is simply an upgraded form of radio frequency (RF) communications. RF radiation is at the lower end of the electromagnetic spectrum and falls into the non-ionizing category, which means that it is unable to break chemical bonds – that is, cause any damage to DNA or tissue. The International Commission on Non ‐ Ionizing Radiation Protection, which sets guidelines on the output of mobile masts, says there is not a single scientifically substantiated adverse health effect that can be attributed to a normal 5G installation. An incremental upgrade in mobile communication technology has become a favourite for online conspiracy theorists. Social and mainstream media have promoted many falsehoods about this technology, and have started to cause an uprising among some sections of society. Not only have these claims resulted in vandalism, but have required rebuttals from the government and slowed down the rollout of the technology. We know that 5G will drive global growth and help act as the glue for device communications in the fourth industrial revolution. It is predicted that 5G will eventually create millions of new jobs and raise trillions in GDP growth. The microwave oven was initially frowned upon, yet is now regarded as an essential appliance in most homes. We’re always initially cautious of new and different technologies, but once we have embraced the innovation, we are then able to keep up with the future. n “We know that 5Gwill drive global growth and help act as the glue for device communications in the fourth industrial revolution. It is predicted that 5G will eventually create millions of new jobs and raise trillions in GDP growth.” Conspiracy theorists have had a field day with 5G communications, resulting in their followers burning down dozens of 5G transmitter masts. Nikesh Mistry*, Gambica’s sector head for industrial automation, argues that there is no scientific basis for these fears and that 5G promises enormous potential benefits for industrial users. 5G or not 5G: that is the question * Gambica is the trade association for the automation, control, instrumentation and laboratory technology sectors in the UK. For more information, please contact NikeshMistry on 020 7642 8094 or via nikesh.mistry@gambica.org.uk