Multi-objective optimisation of human exposure for various 5G network topologies in Switzerland

Authors: Castellanos G, De Gheselle S, Martens L, Kuster N, Joseph W, Deruyck M, Kuehn S

Year: 2022

Category: Computer Networks

Journal: Computer Networks

DOI: 10.1016/j.comnet.2022.109255

URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389128622003231

Abstract

Overview

The research focuses on understanding how different 5G network topologies can impact human exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs). Considering Switzerland as the study region, this paper utilizes a novel metric called the Exposure Ratio (ER) to assess human exposure in these networks.

Findings

  • Evaluation of 5G networks, including technologies like Massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MaMIMO), in contrast to existing 4G networks.
  • Investigation across three different environments using a comprehensive set of simulations which include variations in network operators, use cases, and indoor/outdoor scenarios.
  • Significant findings reveal that in 5G networks, uplink (UL) exposure is considerably higher than downlink (DL) exposure, with a ratio of 10:1.
  • Comparison with 4G shows that in 5G deployments, which have 10 times the traffic capacity, DL exposure increases by an average of 36%, whereas UL exposure can decrease by up to 75% in certain scenarios.
  • Optimisations show that targeting only outdoor coverage can dramatically reduce DL exposure by a factor of 10.

Conclusion

The ideal 5G network, from a human exposure perspective, should employ MaMIMO technology and be meticulously optimised for both UL and DL exposures to minimize EMF risks.

5G human exposure mobile communication network topology sustainability EMF safety
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