The evolution of mobile network technology is having an exponentially increasing impact on the economy, with each new technology generation making an even greater impact than the one before. When 4G arrived in 2010, it aimed to meet the demand for a faster and lower-cost network. Since then, new technologies and new…
5G offers many advantages and opportunities, also for our health; 5G technology could help to improve our health and care through new applications in clinical, outpatient and other medical matters. However, the question that some might ask is whether 5G technology brings new threats to our health. This is the topic of…
Since Motorola demonstrated the first handheld mobile phone in 1973, communication technology has come a long way, and it will see its next paradigm shift with 5G. Faster speeds when downloading and playing a video, less time delay when exchanging chat messages, having a stable connection even in a crowded network…
The history of mobile networks dates back to the first decades of the 20th century when some very rudimentary prototypes of mobile devices were developed based on analogue radio communications. In the 1920s, some police departments in the US began to experiment with using wireless voice radios in their vehicles…
The EU planned to start launching 5G services in all member states by the end of 2020, with the goal of achieving 'uninterrupted 5G coverage' in urban areas and along main transport routes by 2025. To ensure the technology is available by then, the EU Commission launched a public-private partnership, the 5G-PPP – a…
5G opens the door to new services and markets which will change many aspects of our lives. Regulation will therefore be necessary for the new, 5th generation of mobile networks. This will include ensuring technological compatibility at a global level while also providing cybersecurity. The main areas that will require…
5G technology has the potential to transform the whole worldwide economy. At the same time, only a small number of suppliers from a few leading countries dominate the market. The main suppliers are from the US, China and the EU. The so-called '5G race' is therefore not only about developing new technology, but also…
While market players are responsible for the secure rollout of 5G, the European Member States are, as part of their sovereign national competences, responsible for implementing EU policies and enforcing national security. The Member States have coordinated a time frame for investment and the launch of new 5G…
The European Commission (EC) sets limits in the form of regulations to protect citizens from potentially harmful impacts of substances such as chemicals, or in the case of 5G – electromagnetic fields. Scientific research and observations of electromagnetic radiation have shown that beyond certain thresholds, radiation…
What are 'low' and 'mid' bands? And what does 'electromagnetic frequency waves' even mean? Imagine a pebble falling into calm water and causing ripples on the surface. The duration between each high point of two successive waves is its frequency. To explain this more formally – in physics and technology, frequency is…
The first steps of 4G were implemented more than ten years ago, following predecessor network technologies. In general, 4G follows the IMT-Advanced standard. The switch to 5G will follow the IMT-2020 standard, in which new requirements are defined. 5G is not considered new technology in itself, but rather an evolution…
5G is a relatively new technology using electromagnetic fields; it has widespread implications to society and it touches on many different fields of expertise. Debate within all of these fields, as well as the wider interdisciplinary debate, has been ongoing for several years. In the meantime, the understanding of 5G…
Digital traffic is something we have all experienced – sometimes videos skip, websites load slowly, or a message will just not upload instantly. With current wireless technology, all signals go through the same path, one by one. These paths are already much larger than they were a few years ago, but still, there is…
Normal antennas emit electromagnetic radiation – you can think of it as being like the ripples a stone makes when it falls into water. The waves travel in every direction away from the source, forming a circle. Beamforming is a technology that manipulates the radiation waves, steering and enhancing them in a desired…
Vendors, also known as suppliers, are the companies that provide telecom equipment for mobile network operators. They design and build both the hardware and software that goes into the antennas, base-stations, and networks that are run by the national telecom operators. This is a market dominated by a few, large…
Traditionally, mobile networks are based on macrocells, the large cell sites you often see on the roofs of buldings. One of the key elements of a future 5G network would be the introduction of a range of smaller antennas, which could be attached to lamp posts, building walls, bus stops, or even on the undersides of…
Network virtualization is the process of abstracting network resources, that were traditionally delivered in hardware, to software. You can combine multiple physical networks to one virtual, software-based network, or it can divide one physical network into separate, independent virtual networks. In general…
Future 5G networks will be able to define different 'slices' (layers) within the network, which can be optimised for specific use cases. One slice may, for example, be ideal for mobile data traffic, another optimised for small sensors, and a final layer set aside for emergency services. The speed of a mobile network…
Millimetre waves (mmWaves) are waves that are higher on the electromagnetic spectrum than those previously used for wireless connections; the mmWave spectrum is mainly used for frequencies located upwards of 30 GHz, although sometimes also includes slightly lower frequencies. By comparison, current wireless…
In the area of 5G, where network rollout is a national responsibility, the European Commission plays a supporting, but important role. Having already put forward the EU Action Plan on 5G in 2016, the Commission prompted the charting of the EU Toolbox on Cybersecurity of 5G networks in 2019, following a request for…
The European Parliament (EP) represents the citizens of Europe, who elect their representatives every five years to become Members of the European Parliament (MEP). In this election, each EU member state is allocated a different number of seats, proportional to the population of the country. Although most candidates…
The European Council sets the EU's policy agenda, traditionally by adopting conclusions during its meetings that identify issues of concern and actions to take. In its conclusions of 1 and 2 October 2020, the European Council asked the Commission to support acceleration of deploying a very high capacity and secure 5G…
How could 5G influence the development of democracy? There are no conclusive studies on the relationship between 5G and democracy, but there are studies on how the internet can help citizens to participate more in their democratic systems. The characteristics of the fifth generation of mobile networks should give…
Our media use has been changing over the years – we have been moving away from watching television to consuming different types of services (user-generated content, on-demand content) on newer devices (smartphones, tablets), and in a variety of different situations (at home or on-the-go). These changes demand more in…
Just like any other existing mobile technology, or things in everyday use like TVs, home WiFi routers, hairdryers, radios or microwave ovens, 5G emits electromagnetic fields (also called non-ionising radiation), which is covered by international and national exposure guidelines and regulations. The EU rules on…
The term 'radio spectrum' refers to electromagnetic frequencies specifically between 9 kHz (kilohertz) and 3 GHz (gigahertz), with wavelengths between one millimetre and thousands of kilometres. The 3.6 GHz band has been identified as the primary pioneer band for 5G in the European Union. Radio spectrum is the basis…
Small cell antennas are the backbone for the roll-out of 5G networks. However, a significant problem exists with them: building regulations. If telecom operators plan to build a dense network of small cell antennas over the next few years, it will most likely require a lowering of construction regulations. Right now…
Spain has been one of the first European countries to deploy 5G. By autumn 2020, all four national mobile operators – Telefónica, Orange, Vodafone and MásMóvil – had launched their first 5G services. While Telefónica deployed its network nationwide, promising to cover 75% of the population by the end of 2020, the…
When Estonia held the council of the EU presidency in 2017, it released a year-by-year 5G roadmap for all Member States. In its own roadmap, Estonia envisions full coverage by 2020, with connections of at least 30 Mbps, and ultra-fast subscriptions of at least 100 Mbps for at least 60% of internet subscriptions. To…
The delayed rollout of 5G in Belgium is a clear example of the regulatory and political difficulties facing 5G. In Belgium, 5G has become a source of conflict between different layers of government and a cause of public health concern, which has led to repeated delays in auctioning the 5G spectrum. Spectrum auction…
On 27 June 2017, screens went black across the Copenhagen headquarters of A.P. Møller-Maersk. Maersk is one of the world’s biggest shipping companies, with revenue of almost US$39 billion in 2019 and operations covering 600 ships that transport around 20% of global shipping. Suddenly, all of its giant operations had…
As the influence of digitisation continues to grow in all aspects of life in Europe – from business operations to public services and citizen activities – the capacity of the EU and its member states to determine the form and extent of reliance on external suppliers has become a necessity. Control over hardware…
Wireless communication with mobile phones is based on electromagnetic waves carrying data through the air from transmitters (i.e. a network antenna) to a receiver (potentially the phone in your hand) and vice versa. These waves can come in different wavelengths and frequencies. The longer the wave, the lower the…
In a meta-study, also known as meta-analysis, findings based on data from many different studies on the same topic are compared and meaningfully combined. Usually, this leads to a more realistic perspective as individual studies might have limited perspectives or even faults – these limitations get evened out in…
A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) is a wireless communications services provider that does not actually own the wireless network infrastructure over which it provides services to its customers. To be able to provide its services, MVNOs buy network capacity from network operators. They operate on top of the…
Network Operators are companies that build and deploy networks (including cable-based networks), maintain the network infrastructure, and provide services to customers. Companies that build and deploy 3G, 4G, LTE, and 5G wireless networks are known as MNOs - Mobile Network Operators. They overlap with those network…
Until now, mobile internet mainly focused on improving consumer applications such as video calls, navigation, web browsing or streaming. 5G will probably have a stronger focus on applications for businesses and other large organisations. For example: Internet of Things (IoT) 5G makes it possible for businesses to…
Mobile networks are dependent on chips, which are also known as semiconductors. These chips are integrated into mobile phones as well as in networks, and fulfil a host of very specific functions, such as translating electrical signals into wireless signals. Producing these types of chips is a high-tech business that…
With the recent developments in robotics, it has become possible to perform surgery from a different geographical location to that of the patient. Remote surgery, also known as robotic telesurgery, is useful when a qualified surgeon cannot be present in the hospital at a particular time. When this is the case, a…
Smart cities are urban areas that use 5G technology and Internet of Things (IoT) devices to connect infrastructures, organisations, and urban activities together – as well as with its citizens. Thanks to the characteristics of 5G technology, devices and sensors of a smart city will be interconnected and able to both…
Smart factories are manufacturing plants that include technological advances such as the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, big data processors and/or artificial intelligence to automate and optimise their manufacturing processes. For communication, information exchange and integration of these new tools, 5G…
A connected car is a vehicle that is equipped with sensors and devices that have access to the internet. These enable it to collect data from its surroundings and then send the information to other vehicles, pedestrians, and traffic infrastructure. A connected car can also receive information and (re)calculate the…
The platform economy refers to the delivery of goods and services through digital platforms. Part of this platform economy involves the gathering of online behavioural data by free services such as social media. This could include data on your interests in specific types of music, where you are based, or your sexual…
The greater speed, coverage, and amount of information transmitted by 5G, and the stability it will provide, is expected to improve the population's relationship with the internet. In many cases, it will also contribute to reducing the 'digital divide' within society, although there are also dangers that certain…
Smart houses are homes equipped with a multitude of IoT (Internet of Things) devices that interact with each other to optimise living conditions and help increase the comfort of their occupants. Thanks to having a network of connected devices, the home system can collect a large amount of data, process it, and then…
Cloud gaming refers to the ability to play a game without previously downloading and installing it on a device such as a smartphone or gaming console. Instead, it is gaming on a remote server via a fast internet connection. The visual output from the server is directly transported to the screen of a device. To achieve…
Two similar technologies where significant growth is expected from 5G are Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). With 4G networks, users of VR often experience issues with latency and bad image quality – both of which can create motion sickness. The vastly faster speed of 5G could help solve these issues…
One of the key advantages of 5G is the potential for Ultra-reliable Low Latency Communication (uRLLC). Low latency describes a network optimised to process a high volume of data with minimal delay – this delay is what we refer to by the word latency. Such networks are designed to access near real-time databases with…
Imagine a scenario in which many devices are connected and communicating with each other, for instance in a manufacturing plant. Here, one machine tells another which parts are required for completing the next steps in the process, or it communicates which procedures are needed to complete an order. Required…
What are my digital rights, and how can I exercise them? What digital footprint do I leave online, and how is it being used by companies and governmental entities? Who has access to my data, and how and why do they use this? The European Convention on Human Rights was drafted back in 1950, and already included the…
Potential uses of 5G networks in the battlefield are currently being tested by military authorities around the world, with their rollout expected to take longer than in civilian sectors. The advent of edge computing and storage brings the potential of revolutionising military communications, as massive amounts of data…
The Single Market sits at the heart of the European Union. Within it, people, capital, goods and services are able to freely move around. Treating the EU as one territory in this way aims to simplify transactions across Europe along with stimulating competition trade and growth. The global economy is becoming rapidly…
In order to meet the requirements of 5G, a family of technological advancements are being implemented by telecommunications companies. Some of these are an evolution of existing components, but some are totally new. In the first step to implementing the new 5G technology, existing networks and base stations will be…
5G will likely stimulate the creation of both direct and indirect jobs in many sectors throughout the European Union. Sectors that are directly involved in 5G technology, such as the IT, telecom, and 5G development industries are sure to see a direct impact – many jobs will be created within these areas to directly…
Communication has become fundamental to the globalised society in which we live, so it comes as little surprise that these days there are more devices than people on Earth. The ability to access the internet anywhere – from the streets of Berlin to those of Brussels or Barcelona – and at increasingly high speeds is…
Any major new technology development on the scale of 5G has the potential to create many positive changes. However, as with every innovation, we should take into account the concerns and fears that will inevitably be raised – the possible effects of 5G on our health are a clear example. On top of this, there is a fear…
A conspiracy theory is a belief that particular events are the result of a conspiracy made by powerful forces with negative intent. They serve as a coping mechanism to give meaning to something one is unable to control or understand. Concerns about 5G’s effects on our health and privacy have led to the development of…
5G networks are expected to enable great social and economic development. It will provide fast internet with a great capacity to transmit and process information to areas currently with a poor or no connection. Thanks to this, rural populations will be able to access high-tech educational content such as high-quality…
As of early 2021, the vast majority of applications that 5G could bring are still hypothetical or in the early testing stage. These are, however, slowly starting to take shape. In Asia, surgeries with remote-controlled robots have been conducted from a distance of over 1,000 kilometres away – something which is only…
eHealth involves healthcare being supported by electronic processes. Examples for medical practitioners include the online sharing of health records and the use of Clinical Decision Support Systems, based on existing protocols, to guide the decision-making process of practitioners. 5G could also assist in parts the…
Imagine you have an appointment somewhere, but do not own a car and have no easy access to taxi or public transport services. In the new era of mobility that is approaching, all of this does not matter – the moment you step outside, a comfortable vehicle will arrive at your doorstep. You jump in and the vehicle drives…
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the term to describe the technology that connects software-driven machines and objects, like sensors, with the internet. This enables them to communicate – both with each other and with humans – alongside automatically getting software updates and adapting to changes. This technology is…
Ultra-High Definition (UHD) is the successor to Full HD (1080p) and refers to two formats of digital video – 4K UHD and 8K UHD. They are made up of approximately 4,000 and 8,000 horizontal pixels respectively and have an aspect ratio of 16:9. While using a 4G internet connection, streaming a video in UHD will take a…
Supply chains for mobile networks have become highly globalised, and as a result, are now at the centre of current geopolitical tensions – particularly in the area of mobile network vendors and chip producers. To simplify what the supply chain for 5G telecom equipment looks like, we can divide it into general…
5G technology has started to reshape the existing tech ecosystem. Emerging technologies in the tech ecosystem are maturing alongside the development of the fifth generation of mobile networks, as 5G will provide a common environment for such innovations. Some examples of these are autonomous vehicles, smart cities and…
In 2013, the EU established the 5G-PPP in order to take advantage of the opportunities 5G offers. Additionally, in the same year, the EU offered €700 million for the Horizon 2020 programme to support the activity of implementing infrastructure and the rolling out of 5G technology. In 2016, the 5G Action Plan was…
Underlying many security concerns about 5G is its importance in providing critical infrastructure to society – similar to power lines, water networks or port facilities. This is particularly true for 5G, compared to previous generations such as 4G, due to its capacity to support a multitude of different applications…
As 5G networks require much less energy to transmit the same data as 4G, they are more efficient in the ratio of power consumption to traffic. However, 5G’s higher speed and bandwidth might also increase the number of devices using the network extensively – this could become a problem. In particular, IoT devices with…
We often hear how 5G will be able to achieve speeds 10 times, or even 100 times, faster than 4G networks. However, it is much more complex than that – speed itself is not the only element that is important to 5G. Instead, several sub-elements are all key to increasing the performance of 5G networks. The speeds 5G…
Are there alternative methods to achieving the industry data transfer standards of 5G? Fibre optics An alternative to achieving the high speeds 5G offers could be fibre optics. However, fibre-optic cables need to be laid underground, and forego the convenience of wireless connections. Furthermore, current networking…
In the global 5G race, China is one of the biggest players with good prospects for the pole position. With almost 25,000 declared 5G patent families as of October 2020, the country has become one of the leaders in the research and development of 5G. China’s long-term strategy is focused on high public investment…
In the US, the rollout of 5G will not be led by the government but instead by the private sector – specifically the telecom companies. Their job is to facilitate the evolution and security of 5G, as well as examine technological and spectrum-based solutions to lay the groundwork for next-generation innovations. The US…
Since the very first times humans used electromagnetic fields the technology spooked some people. You normally can not see, hear, feel or taste it – but it still does things. Therefore it was always crucial for scientists to somehow explain what is happening. Several components need to come together for 5G technology…
Thanks to the characteristics of 5G networks, home education will become available for a lot of people who could not access it before. Others will be able to benefit from access to high-quality and novel educational materials that they were unable to use before due to their slow and unstable connections. The fifth…
Security by design refers to making security the key element of the configuration of products, services or applications, and thereby preventing any privacy risks from occurring. When designing – or redesigning – an IT system, the way an application or device processes personal data (e.g. location data or access to…
Cybersecurity is an important concern of the US government. From the beginning of his presidency on 20 January 2021, President Joe Biden has been overhauling the US cybersecurity strategy and leadership; his executive order on improving the nation’s cybersecurity underlines the importance the administration is giving…
The ongoing rivalry between the US and China for technological leadership is pressuring other countries to choose a side. China has threatened retaliation against EU countries if they give in to US demands and also ban Huawei in Europe. However, giving in to these US demands does not seem to be a real option for the…
Bart Smolders is the Dean of the Department of Electrical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and Professor and Chair of the Electromagnetics (EM) group. His key areas of expertise include smart antenna systems and microwave engineering. His work is in the area of integrated antenna systems for…
Fabiana Zollo is Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics and Research Fellow in the Center for the Humanities & Social Change at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. Her background is in Computer Science, and her research investigates information spreading on online social…
Dr. Janka Oertel is the Director of the Asia Programme at the European Council on Foreign Relations. She primarily focused on transatlantic China policy including on emerging technologies, Chinese foreign policy, and security in East Asia. How would you describe the 5G dynamic between the US and China? Has the…
Jan-Peter is head of the Technology & Geopolitics of the project Geopolitics & Technology at Stiftung Neue Verantwortung (SNV). His work focuses on the intersection of global semiconductor supply chains, IT security, and geopolitics. He has a special interest in the security and resilience of our future mobile…
John Lee is a senior analyst at the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS), where he focuses on emerging technologies, future networks, and data governance issues. How would you describe the dynamic between China and the US? How does 5G affect the US-China relation? How do you evaluate the ban of Chinese 5G…
Josephina Antoniou is an Assistant Professor in Computing, the Course Leader of MSc Computing and the Research Lead for the School of Sciences at UCLan Cyprus. SHE focuses on Communication Networks; strategic modelling using Game Theory and Bayesian Principles, as well as the quantification of user experience using…
Peter Stuckmann manages the EU Commission's policy on 5G communication systems and the related research and innovation programme. Which role plays the implementation of 5G in the Digital Single Market? What have we learnt from the successful implementation of 2G? The 5G PPP does research on 5G. What have we learnt so…
Wolter Lemstra is a CERRE Research Fellow and Senior Research Fellow at Delft University of Technology. His research interests are the development of the telecoms sector in relation to firm strategy and government policy, and the role of governance regimes and the institutional environment. Why do we need 5G - isn’t…
The misuse of personal data in the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica scandal was a clear demonstration that certain values underlying data protection rules are essential for democracy. With 5G, parts of the infrastructure and supply chain are owned by actors operating under authoritarian regimes, which might create further…
Sources [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6]
The application profiles for new mobile telecommunication networks are defined by the 3GPP and the ITU. For 5G technology there are 3 main categories in which it shall improve on the network services of previous generations. These are: Enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) Ultra-reliable low latency communication (uRLLC)…
The abbreviation eMBB stands for Enhanced Mobile Broadband. 4G networks already make use of it in a rudimentary form. It is the first step to make the transition towards the IMT-2020 standard (5G). eMBB allow high data transmission rates, such as the streaming of high-resolution videos, AR/VR or online gaming. Under…
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Source, adapted by Kontextlab
To help create this map the following people worked on concept, content, design, reviewing and many other things! In alphabetical order: Aikaterini Mavrona Annabell Brockhues Bernhard Scholz Branimir Stantchev Carolien Nijenhuis Christa Koeyvoets Erich Seifert Gianluca Quaglio Julia Köberlein Orestis Tringides Pablo…
Will the 5G wavelengths cause cancer or not? A conclusive answer to that question is yet to be found. We asked two experts.
Karen Douglas is a professor of social psychology at the University of Kent. She studies why people believe in conspiracy theories, and what the consequences of conspiracy theories are for individuals, groups, and societies.
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