Is the country ready for 5G?

THE EDITOR: 5G basically stands for the fifth generation of cellular network technology. It promises faster and more efficient network speeds, it’s set to be as much as 100 times faster than the current 4G networks. But are faster speeds really worth it?

All devices use frequencies and radio waves which allow them to communicate and function properly. However, most devices use low frequencies with long waves, whereas 5G uses the opposite.

It will be operating within the same frequency wave as microwaves. This means that while 5G is faster, it doesn’t have a wide range, which is why more transmitters will have to be installed to ensure proper connectivity.

It has been shown that prolonged exposure to high frequency waves can have negative impacts on the health of an individual, and can even worsen health problems.

The frequency radiation levels decrease with distance, so the further you are, the less harmful it is. But with 5G transmitters being installed every few hundred metres, it’s going to become a problem, and not just for us humans, but animals, plants and other biological life.

This 5G technology is no doubt going to revolutionise network communication globally, but it needs more extensive research into its effects, both short and long-term, before the widespread rollout.

F MOHAMMED

Princes Town