22 June 2023
Researchers from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) recently attended a workshop on techniques to measure radio waves in the 24 – 30 GHz range, frequencies which are now being used in the latest implementation of the 5G network.
ARPANSA’s Electromagnetic Radiation Exposure Assessment Assistant Director, Stuart Henderson, said the agency recently acquired two new probes for their spectrum analysers so that they can measure higher frequency 5G radio waves.
‘In 2022, when we conducted radio wave exposure measurements in Melbourne, all commercially available mobile phone services, including 5G, were using radio waves below 6 GHz,’ Dr Henderson said.
‘Now that 5G has started to use higher frequencies, we have updated our technology and practices so that we can continue to assess the community’s radio wave exposure.
‘The workshop provided an opportunity to discuss and explore those best practice methods to collect accurate measurements at 24-30 GHz. These techniques are outlined in recently updated standards by the International Electrotechnical Commission and have been adopted by Standards Australia.’
5G is the fifth generation of wireless technology used by telecommunications providers for mobile services and wireless internet.
ARPANSA’s measurement surveys have shown that exposure to radio waves in the environment from broadcast media and wireless technology is low – typically hundreds of times below the safety limits set in the ARPANSA Standard.
