Introduction.
The 5G has been described as the fourth industrial revolution. With its top-of-the-roof high-speed internet connectivity, the 5G is well-positioned to alter the global telecommunication landscape for the best. It will also have a profound impact on the global economy; according to a World Economic Forum report, the 5G is predicted to contribute about $13.2 trillion to the world economy by 2035. The 5G is not without its controversies. There has been a series of controversies against its effects, albeit negative on human health, heck, it has even been linked to the coronavirus pandemic. What exactly is the 5G? What are the controversies against it?
What is the 5G network?
The chances are that you know about the 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. The 5G is the successor to the 4G network, and like most successors, it is better than its predecessors. It works by utilizing millimeter waves that broadcast between 30 and 300GHz frequencies. At a top speed of about 10 gigabits per second, it is estimated to be about ten times faster than its immediate predecessor, the 4G. The 5G will ensure the interconnectivity of the world on a scale that is never imagined. It will power driverless cars; it will power the internet of things and ensure a hitch-free data transfer irrespective of the size. Imagine being able to download a fifty gigabits video game in a few minutes.
The 5G controversy.
The 5G is generating a lot of controversies. There are a series of reports, especially on the internet linking the 5G technology to the coronavirus pandemic. This has led to the outright destruction of 5G telecommunication towers in some parts of the United Kingdom. While it is easy to dismiss the negativity surrounding the 5G as another conspiracy theory, it should be noted that leading scientists and politicians have raised the alarm against the possible effect of the 5G network on health.
According to an experiment conducted by neuroscientists Allan Frey, the Electro Magnetic Field wave produced by the 5G and similar networks could prevent frog hearts from beating if exposed at certain frequencies. A United States’ Republican senator, Richard Blumenthal, has also raised concerns over the purported health impact of the 5G. Certainly, these controversies will not put the advancement of the 5G into a halt. It should be noted that the International Commission on Non‐Ionizing Radiation Protection has declared that there is no scientifically proven effect of 5G on health.
A historical analysis of man’s reaction to new technology shows that new technologies are always controversial. The introduction of trains in the 17th century was met with controversies. It was thought that traveling with trains could damage critical body organs. The introduction of the telephone in the 18th century was not without controversy; it was argued that it would make people antisocial and ultimately lead to societal collapse. Like the 5G, the 3G did not escape the prying touch of controversies as it was also believed to be harmful to the health when it was first introduced in the mid-2000s
Conclusion
Despite its many controversies, the 5G network is not going anywhere. While we wait for science-backed evidence to prove its adverse health effects, it should be seen as a friend that will make life easier than an enemy that is hell-bent on making us perpetually sick.
