Mobile Technology, Health and the Environment LTE: Technology and Health 1—2 Mobile Technology, Health and the Environment LTE Technology and Health Mobile Broadband typically What is LTE, and what benefits does The figure below shows data rates refers to providing customers it provide? for Mobile Broadband technologies. Long Term Evolution (LTE) is designed 3G/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 mobile phone 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 modems frequencies currently used to provide and modulation of the user information (USB ‘dongles’) that plug into laptops 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 Internet 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 Telecommunication 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 Telecommunications; exposures are similar to current wireless HSPA, High Speed Packet Access; 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/ 00.05%.05% en/index.html 40% 00.00%.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.