About this Research Topic
The deployment of 5G networks is a fundamental step to enable a variety of innovative services. Although the benefits of 5G are clear and well recognized, a portion of the general public is extremely concerned about the impact of 5G on human exposure to ElectroMagnetic Fields (EMFs). In this context, many allegations – mainly generated from non-scientific communities – are made against 5G, claiming that 5G technology will significantly increase human exposure to EMF. Despite efforts by national and international organizations to inform the population about the fact that 5G complying with international guidelines does not constitute a danger for human health, the terms “5G” and “exposure” are commonly connected to thoughts of suspicion and fear.
The goal of the Research Topic is to investigate human EMF exposure from 5G and Beyond-5G (B5G) Networks, by adopting a scientific approach to address population concerns. More specifically, we solicit contributions about 5G and B5G exposure coming from the following orthogonal (yet interconnected) areas: i) risk assessment and communication, ii) policy impact, and iii) engineering-based solutions.
Focusing on risk assessment, works tailored to the investigation of health effects due to 5G exposure are welcome. This category also includes papers that evaluate the level of risks connected with adoption of 5G (and B5G) networks. In addition, contributions about epidemiological analysis of 5G exposure matching the scope of this Research Topic are appropriate. Finally, submissions targeting the debunking of fake theories about 5G exposure with scientific approaches are welcome.
The second category is tailored to the investigation of the impact of policies on EMF exposure. For example, works showing the impact on EMF from the decommissioning of legacy wireless technologies are encouraged. In addition, we solicit contributions to show the impact of changes to national EMF regulation on 5G and B5G deployment. Finally, other topics of interest in this area include contributions focused on harmonization of EMF exposure limits and adoption of international guidelines for EMF compliance assessment.
The third and last category includes contributions from the engineering domain of 5G and EMF. In particular, solutions to reduce EMF exposure from 5G and B5G networks are welcome. We also solicit contributions reporting case studies of EMF assessment/measurement from 5G and B5G networks. Finally, network-wide solutions targeting EMF-aware network planning and EMF-aware communications are within the topics of interest of the proposal.
Potential topics include but are not limited to the following ones:
• Health effects investigation of 5G (and B5G) exposure;
• Epidemiological studies of human exposure to 5G (and B5G) cellular networks;
• Electro Magnetic (EMF) measurements of 5G networks/devices;
• Exposure-aware design of 5G User Equipment / Base Station;
• Impact of new architecture paradigms on EMF levels: large intelligent-aided communications, densification, offloading;
• EMF-aware cellular network planning;
• EMF-aware resource allocation and communications protocols;
• Scientific debunking of fake theories about 5G exposure;
• EMF-aware policies: decommissioning of legacy wireless technologies and the impact on exposure levels, national exposure regulation updates, harmonization of EMF compliance assessment procedures;
• EMF assessment of 5G features: mm-Waves, beamforming, densification, Internet of Things;
• EMF risk minimization via intelligent reflecting surfaces;
• EMF risk minimization via visible light communications and free space optics;
• Co-existence of 5G with weather satellites and Radio-Frequency (RF) sources;
• Case studies and proof of concepts about EMF exposure measurement/assessment scenarios for 5G (and B5G).
The goal of the Research Topic is to investigate human EMF exposure from 5G and Beyond-5G (B5G) Networks, by adopting a scientific approach to address population concerns. More specifically, we solicit contributions about 5G and B5G exposure coming from the following orthogonal (yet interconnected) areas: i) risk assessment and communication, ii) policy impact, and iii) engineering-based solutions.
Focusing on risk assessment, works tailored to the investigation of health effects due to 5G exposure are welcome. This category also includes papers that evaluate the level of risks connected with adoption of 5G (and B5G) networks. In addition, contributions about epidemiological analysis of 5G exposure matching the scope of this Research Topic are appropriate. Finally, submissions targeting the debunking of fake theories about 5G exposure with scientific approaches are welcome.
The second category is tailored to the investigation of the impact of policies on EMF exposure. For example, works showing the impact on EMF from the decommissioning of legacy wireless technologies are encouraged. In addition, we solicit contributions to show the impact of changes to national EMF regulation on 5G and B5G deployment. Finally, other topics of interest in this area include contributions focused on harmonization of EMF exposure limits and adoption of international guidelines for EMF compliance assessment.
The third and last category includes contributions from the engineering domain of 5G and EMF. In particular, solutions to reduce EMF exposure from 5G and B5G networks are welcome. We also solicit contributions reporting case studies of EMF assessment/measurement from 5G and B5G networks. Finally, network-wide solutions targeting EMF-aware network planning and EMF-aware communications are within the topics of interest of the proposal.
Potential topics include but are not limited to the following ones:
• Health effects investigation of 5G (and B5G) exposure;
• Epidemiological studies of human exposure to 5G (and B5G) cellular networks;
• Electro Magnetic (EMF) measurements of 5G networks/devices;
• Exposure-aware design of 5G User Equipment / Base Station;
• Impact of new architecture paradigms on EMF levels: large intelligent-aided communications, densification, offloading;
• EMF-aware cellular network planning;
• EMF-aware resource allocation and communications protocols;
• Scientific debunking of fake theories about 5G exposure;
• EMF-aware policies: decommissioning of legacy wireless technologies and the impact on exposure levels, national exposure regulation updates, harmonization of EMF compliance assessment procedures;
• EMF assessment of 5G features: mm-Waves, beamforming, densification, Internet of Things;
• EMF risk minimization via intelligent reflecting surfaces;
• EMF risk minimization via visible light communications and free space optics;
• Co-existence of 5G with weather satellites and Radio-Frequency (RF) sources;
• Case studies and proof of concepts about EMF exposure measurement/assessment scenarios for 5G (and B5G).
Keywords: 5G networks, Beyond-5G Networks, EMF Exposure, Risk Assessment, EMF Policy
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
