Mobile Technology, Health and the Environment LTE: Technology and Health 1—2 , Health and the Environment

LTE Technology and Health

Mobile typically What is LTE, and what benefits does The figure below shows data rates refers to providing customers it provide? for technologies. Long Term Evolution (LTE) is designed /WCDMA is a third generation with high speed data while to deliver very fast data speeds of mobile system. High Speed Packet up to 100 Mb/s (megabits per second) Access (HSPA) technology is already on the move. There are several downlink and 50 Mb/s uplink delivering Mobile Broadband technologies capable of (peak rates) – this is faster than most services and HSPA+ is a technical home broadband services. LTE has enhancement. LTE is the next step delivering commercial Mobile the advantage of being backwards on the GSM technology road map Broadband services. The GSM compatible with existing GSM and after HSPA. The first commercial 3G technologies, enabling mobile LTE networks were launched in Oslo, Association (GSMA) has operators to deploy LTE and continue Norway and Stockholm, Sweden in produced this brief to describe to provide a seamless service across December 2009. WiMAX (Worldwide existing networks. Interoperability for Microwave Access) key features of the technology systems typically offer limited and address some of the URL: www.gsmworld.com/mbb mobility services. questions related to exposure to URL: www.gsmworld.com/technology radio signals from LTE antennas and devices.

HSPA (2005) HSPA + Rel-7 HSPA + Rel-9 3GPP IMT LTE Rel-8-9 LTE Advanced

Rel-10 Ad v anced

WiMAX IEEE WiMAX WiMAX IEEE 802.16e R 1.0 (2005) WiMAX IEEE 802.16e R 1.5 802.16m R 2.0 Mobile

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012–2015

WCDMA Technology OFDMA Technology GSM Association

When LTE is launched will it replace The GSMA generally supports spectrum What kind of research exists regarding existing mobile networks? liberalisation, essentially the removal LTE and possible health effects? Mobile operators need to provide a of technology restrictions to enable new The essential characteristics of LTE- range of voice and data services in order mobile technologies to be deployed signals in respect to the exposure are to meet the expectations of consumers. within the same band or bands as existing comparable to those of existing mobile As consumers expect to be able to use technologies. For example, 3G or HSPA technologies. These similarities refer their virtually everywhere, could be deployed in spectrum bands especially to the transmission power LTE will initially be deployed in parallel where traditionally GSM has been used. and also to the relevant frequency range. with existing mobile services. This also Indeed, the frequency bands which will means continuity of service for customers Where governments allow flexibility be used by LTE were previously allocated who can continue to use their phones on in the choice of technology, network to other radio services, for example TV. existing networks. The first LTE devices operators may deploy LTE in the The key difference is that the coding have been Mobile Broadband frequencies currently used to provide and modulation of the user information (USB ‘dongles’) that plug into mobile services. In some cases this may for LTE allows higher data rates to be but soon other mobile devices will be a replacement for GSM or 3G and supported. This means that existing incorporate LTE. in other cases it will be an additional scientific research and safety standards radio technology. are relevant to health risk assessments If governments allocate low frequency The spectrum allocations for mobile of LTE. spectrum from the Digital Dividend, services are not the same in all countries. LTE has the potential to deliver mobile The chart below shows the major current In April 2010 the German Federal Agency broadband coverage to rural and urban and planned spectrum allocations for Radiation Protection assessed LTE areas. This will enable high speed for mobile technologies. In the future in response to a question in the German access regardless of where operators may deploy LTE in other Bundestag (parliament) and concluded: people live. frequency bands where government licences permit. ‘These frequencies adjoin the frequency bands previously used for mobile communication URL: www.gsmworld.com/spectrum and researched in the German Mobile Research Programme (DMF). Therefore, no significant differences to previously used mobile communication frequencies are to be expected regarding possible biological effects: The German Mobile

Frequency 700MHz 800MHz 850MHz 900MHz 1800MHz 1900MHz 2100MHz 2600MHz Telecommunication Research Programme Band has shown that there were no indications of GSM a damaging effect of mobile communication 3G/HSPA within the effective limit values.’

LTE URL: www.bfs.de/en/elektro 3—4 Mobile Technology, Health and the Environment

Are new safe exposure limits needed In the diagram, the bar chart on the How do the exposures from LTE for the LTE system? left shows that the highest total of all antennas compare to other mobile No, because current international measured signals was about 0.4% of and radio services? safety guidelines for radio technologies the ICNIRP public exposure limit. Measurements in 2010 on one of the are valid for the whole frequency first commercial LTE networks operating range planned for LTE deployments. On the right the relative contributions of in the 2.6 GHz band showed that the These guidelines are recognised by the each service are shown: FM, Frequency LTE signals were about 4% of all the World Health Organization (WHO) as Modulation; T-DAB, Terrestrial– measured radio signals and more than providing protection for all persons Digital Audio Broadcasting; TETRA, 6,000 times below the recommended against all established health effects. Terrestrial Trunked Radio; PMR, Private safety limits. Further measurements Mobile Radio; DVB-T, Digital Video are planned for LTE systems in other Broadcasting–Terrestrial; GSM, Global frequency bands and to examine the System for Mobile Communications; influence of call traffic. 3G-WCDMA, 3G Wideband Code Division Multiple Access; DECT, Digital The measurements found that typical Enhanced Cordless ; exposures are similar to current HSPA, ; WLAN, networks, and other sources, such as 802.11 and LTE, Long Term Evolution. TV and radio. The level of exposure in a particular position will depend on URL: www.who.int/emf many factors including antenna height, transmitter power and distance to 100% Magnified view the antenna. 0.30% 90% The WHO has concluded that for mobile 0.25% and wireless networks: 80%

0.200.20%% ‘Considering the very low exposure levels and 70% research results collected to date, there is no convincing scientific evidence that the weak 0.150.15%% 60% RF signals from base stations and wireless networks cause adverse health effects.’ 0.100.10%% 50% URL: www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs304/ 0.05%0.05% en/index.html 40%

0.00%0.00% 30% Measured total all signals = 0.4%

20% FM GSM1800 PMR 3G-WCDMA 10% Analogue TV LTE GSM900 0%

Measured Limit GSM Association

LTE promises faster data rates than Are there safety standards for Do I need to take any precautions when current mobile technologies, does LTE devices? I use my LTE dongle? that mean higher exposures from the Yes, LTE devices have to comply with All equipment transmitting radio antenna sites and will this grow with the same type of safety limits as mobile signals must comply with national or more data traffic? phones. LTE devices are currently in international safety requirements, which LTE will improve data speeds and the form of data modems (such as USB also applies to LTE dongles. Some devices network capacity by carrying data ‘dongles’) but in the future will include are designed to have a small minimum more efficiently. This is needed to meet conventional mobile phones and other separation from the body when in use, the high expectations and demands applications such as those embedded in typically 15–25 mm depending on the customers place on mobile communication laptops. Exposure guidelines for mobile device. This is to ensure that the device applications and services both in their phones and devices used close to the operates more efficiently and also meets professional and private life. The power head or body specify the maximum level the SAR requirements. If a separation from an LTE base station will vary in of RF energy that can be absorbed with is required this will be described in response to the amount of data traffic. a large safety margin. The term for the the documentation accompanying the The maximum exposure levels will be amount of RF energy absorbed by the device and is normally produced by the similar to other mobile services using body is the Specific Absorption Rate or manufacturer. No other precautions similar transmitter powers. SAR. SAR is expressed in units of watts are required. per kilogram (W/kg). In May 2010, the WHO stated: The maximum SAR level for a mobile phone used against the head or body ‘A large number of studies have been in accordance with the international performed over the last two decades to assess guidelines is 2 W/kg measured over a whether mobile phones pose a potential health 10 gram averaging mass. Mobile phones risk. To date, no adverse health effects have (including LTE devices) are tested for been established for mobile phone use.’ SAR compliance at the highest certified power level in laboratory conditions. URL: www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs193/ en/index.html URL: www.emfexplained.info/?ID=25584 5—6 Mobile Technology, Health and the Environment

I am concerned, how can I reduce my Is the amount of power affected by exposure? how much data I send? Mobile phones are low-powered All mobile technologies adapt their radiofrequency transmitters with peak transmitted power to operate at the powers in the range of 0.1 to 2 watts. lowest level possible by taking account The device only transmits power when of the type of service (voice or data) and it is turned on. LTE devices are tested the quality of the radio link between the for compliance with exposure standards mobile device and nearby antenna sites. at their highest certified power level in This also minimises interference to other laboratory conditions. nearby mobile devices. More data is sent when transmitting an image than a text The power (and hence the radiofrequency message. Remember that an LTE device exposure to a user) falls off rapidly with is only transmitting small amounts of increasing distance from the mobile data when viewing an Internet site as it device. A person using a mobile phone is mostly receiving information. 30–40 cm away from their body – for example when , accessing URL: www.gsmworld.com/our-work/ the Internet, or using a “hands free” public-policy/health/mobile_devices.htm device – will therefore have a much lower exposure than someone holding the handset against their head.

To increase distance with a put it on a table. Using the LTE device in areas of good reception also decreases exposure as it will transmit at reduced power. GSM Association

Will you need to put up new antenna How do LTE data rates affect the size How does the compliance zone for sites for LTE, like you have for 3G? of the compliance zones around LTE antennas compare to that for 3G? As LTE has different frequency network antennas? Mobile network operators position requirements to those of existing mobile Mobile networks are designed to use antennas high up on poles or rooftops services new antennas will generally only the power needed to provide or on the side of buildings so that the be required. Where possible an operator quality services. Too much power exposure limits are not exceeded in areas will place these antennas at an existing would cause interference and affect accessible by the public. The size of the site and at other times new locations will all users. One of the features of LTE compliance zone for LTE antennas will be required. In some countries mobile is that it is able to allocate different be similar to that of other mobile services operators are working together to jointly data rates to different users, in order using similar transmitter powers. In order deploy LTE networks. This means fewer to use the total capacity most efficiently. to allow for situations when workers sites, saving on cost of equipment and This means that the transmitted power need to access rooftops for maintenance operating the network. will vary in response to the amount of activities, procedures are agreed between mobile call traffic. the mobile operator and the rooftop Site sharing with other radio installations landlord when the antenna is installed. or existing structures, where technically Compliance zones are assessed using feasible and in line with competition law the planned maximum power for the URL: www.gsmworld.com/our-work/ and licensing conditions, is factored into base station and typically extend about public-policy/health/working_near_antennas.htm decisions on the most environmentally 3 metres in front of the antenna and about appropriate base station solution. 5 centimetres above, below and behind Appropriate siting and design may the antenna. If an antenna could be reduce the visual profile of antennas. accessible to the public, then there are signs and barriers to advise them of the antenna, and how to proceed safely. The antennas are positioned so the public cannot access these areas. Where to go for more information GSMA: www.gsmworld.com/health

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