INTRODUCTION:
5G means the fifth-generation mobile network. 5G is a new global technology which help the people to connect with everyone they want to. It is a global wireless standard which surpasses the 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G. It provides higher speed than earlier. It will allow instance downloading of data which is taking hours to download with the current network. The main of 5G network is to allow customers to use more devices at faster rate than before. 5G is for the benefit of new generation but it also has some side effects on both health as well as environment.
IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT:
Now it is claimed that 5G network will lead to an astronomical rise in energy consumption. We all are well aware that from a technological perspective 5G is more energy efficient but what are effects of this network. Here I will discuss the impacts of 5G network:
Positive Impacts:
This network has some positive impacts on the environment it can benefit the environment by reducing energy consumption and emissions. After various studies it was found that 5G uses less power for transmitting data than other networks. For ex. 1 kWh of electricity is used of download 300 high-definition movies with 4G network and in 5G network 1 kWh can download 5000 ultra-high-definition movies.
Saving energy also means that cutting of greenhouse gas emissions. A study done by Erickson, a leading information and communication technology provider projects that loT will cut the carbon emissions 15 percent by 2030.
A UN study has estimated that 1/3rd of the food which is produced across the world is wasted, which in return also wastes the energy and water that went into it. The agricultural sensors can detect that when a plant is wilting so that they can help to ensure that crops are harvested at the right time and the other sensors can detect the freshness of food and the spoilage so that the user know when the food is safe without the knowing of expiration dates. 5G network can be used to tag all the food and all its details like where its is produced, track harvest dates and identify specific animals and then trace the smart tags as food is transported to the factory. Other sensors systems could detect the conditions in the factory, assess the quality of food and compliance with all the regulations. An automatic and transparent system could make sure that the correct ingredients are delivered at the right time to the consumers and are packaged properly. This will help to reduce the food waste and as well as reduce the energy consumption.
Negative impact:
In the present climate change is one of the greatest challenges for our society as well for our economy. As we all know that as consumers around the world like to move to 5G phones for higher technology many older phones and lot devices will be discarded if there are no buy back and no recycling plans for them then the result will be dangerous because it results in enormous amounts of e-waste which is already a huge problem for us.
The introduction and use of 5G could have a disruptive impact on ecosystems. A study by Punjab university found that the birds exposed to cell tower radiation for five to thirty minutes produced disfigured eggs. In many other countries also the nesting, breeding and roosting of birds were disturbed due to radiation produced from a cell tower. It was also found that the wireless frequencies also interfere with the navigational systems and circadian rhythms of birds and affect their migration.
There is some evidence that the radiation coming from the 5G network is very harmful to the environment as well as for the public health. We need more research to find out the adverse effects of the 5G network on animals. There are some effects on children also like autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and asthma. Damage is certainly no confined to only human beings but also to diverse plants species.
When the 5G technology is fully deployed it will use the millimeter waves, which are poorly transmitted through solid material. It will require every carrier to install base stations every 100 meters in every urban area around the world. Unlike the previous generations of wireless technology, in which a single antenna broadcasts over a wide area, 5G base stations and 5G devices will have multiple antennas arranged in “phased arrays” that work together to emit focused, steerable, laser-like beams that track each other.
CONCLUSION:
We can see that the 5G network has both positive as well as negative impact on the environment. It was recommended that the measures should be taken to protect the humanity and the environment keeping in mind that the technology can’t affect the lives of human beings.