5G technology: Why we shouldn't be worried and if we are - how to behave

False and inaccurate news about the alleged harmfulness of 5G networks has spread through social media and other digital communication channels like a collection of mobile games. In an almost mystical way, this technology has been linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unfortunately, the adverse effects of the panic caused were quickly transferred from the digital sphere to the real world. We witnessed news of fires at 5G base stations in the UK, while in Croatia, a public Wi-Fi system was set on fire under the pretext that it was 5G. This is undoubtedly the final call to awaken the profession and all those who work and know wireless communications or are connected to that professional community, to go public and provide accurate and precise information throughout the audience.

This mission and task is a difficult struggle with the fear contained in the sentence "5G is harmful," which in recent days has been mostly tweeted, expressed through GIFs, pictures, memes, and scary videos, reminiscent of real-world horror movies. Undoubtedly a difficult task, but we will try to present the essential things shortly and, as much as possible, through some facts.

Is worrying about 5G networks pure nonsense?
No, it is natural and completely understandable to be concerned about the emergence of new technologies that we do not understand how they work and how they affect our lives. As an example, let us recall, people were massively concerned even when electricity appeared. At the Mercedes Museum, if you visit it, you can hear the story of how people fled in terror from the first cars, but at the same time, were not worried about old transportation techniques such as the use of horses.

What is different today in this context? People have been using wireless communications for decades, and 5G is another new wireless technology. In addition to the natural and reasonable right to be concerned, people also have the right to be informed. Moreover, they must be informed before forming an opinion on a topic and any action they take against implementing a new technological solution in their environment.

5G is all around us, and I can feel the effects of radiation
5G is not yet in widespread use anywhere in the world. How many people, how many readers of this text, now can personally surf the Internet via a 5G-connected tablet, mobile phone, or computer? Even if that number is not zero, it isn't essential compared to the ubiquitous 4G, Wi-Fi, 3G, 2G, or even Bluetooth devices like wireless headsets. All the radiation from the wireless communication networks, to which we are exposed, comes from all other technologies that we have been using for decades to play realistic 3D games and do many other things, not at all from the new 5G radio waves. It is merely a technical fact that the most significant radiation does not come from base stations, but our mobile phones.