Is Your Wi-Fi Router Becoming a Radiation Hazard? Big Flaw in India’s New 5G Tech Draft

Summary

In this video, the speaker discusses the growing popularity of Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) in India, especially by operators like Reliance and Bharti. The focus is on the challenges of deploying FWA using millimeter-wave bands (26 GHz), specifically the high transmission power of 55 dBm for Customer Premises Equipment (CPE). This power level raises concerns about potential health hazards due to high EMF exposure, particularly in residential areas. The speaker calls for revisions in the TEC's draft specification to ensure safety, including mandates for antenna gain and mounting guidelines to prevent interference and health risks.

Takeaways

• 😀 FWA (Fixed Wireless Access) is gaining popularity in India, especially with Reliance and Bharti, to provide broadband in areas where fiber deployment is difficult.
• 😀 The average revenue per user (ARPU) from FWA services is around 600 to 800 rupees, which helps increase mobile operators' ARPU as well.
• 😀 The 3.5 GHz band, intended for FWA and 5G services, has limitations like limited spectrum and the need for synchronization with mobile services, making symmetric broadband challenging.
• 😀 TC (Telecommunications Certification) has released specifications for deploying Wi-Fi over the millimeter wave bands, including 26 GHz and 28 GHz, which were previously intended for 5G services.
• 😀 Reliance and Bharti have acquired significant spectrum in the millimeter wave bands, but challenges exist in deploying UBR (Universal Base Radio) in the 5 GHz band due to it being unlicensed.
• 😀 TC's draft specification for Wi-Fi deployment over millimeter wave bands proposes a radiated transmission power of 59 dBm for base stations and 55 dBm for CP (Customer Premises) devices.
• 😀 The 55 dBm power for CP devices equates to 316 watts of radiated power, which is extremely high for consumer equipment, potentially causing health risks from EMF (electromagnetic field) exposure.
• 😀 A 55 dBm CP power limit, without specifying antenna gain, can result in a wide beam spread, increasing interference and making it harder to control power density and EMF exposure.
• 😀 The lack of defined antenna gain in the TC specification for CP devices could lead to increased RF exposure in public spaces, raising concerns about health hazards, especially for children and residents.
• 😀 Compared to base stations, CP devices with 55 dBm of power could result in a power density five times higher than current BTS (base station) power limits, posing significant health risks if not regulated properly.
• 😀 A key issue with the current TC draft is that CP devices could be mounted too close to people, potentially violating EMF exposure limits and causing long-term health risks if deployed carelessly.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the video transcript?

The video focuses on Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) services in India, the deployment challenges of millimeter-wave Wi-Fi technology in the 26 GHz band, and the potential health hazards associated with high power transmission levels in customer premises equipment (CPE).

Why is FWA becoming popular in India?

FWA is gaining popularity because it helps expand broadband connectivity in areas where laying fiber is difficult. It also offers an opportunity for mobile operators to increase their Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) by providing fixed broadband services.

What limitations does the 3.5 GHz band have for FWA services?

The 3.5 GHz band, which is used for FWA services, faces two main limitations: limited spectrum availability and the need to share spectrum with mobile services. This sharing causes inefficiencies in the uplink and downlink, as symmetric broadband (same upload and download speeds) is not possible.

What is the significance of the 26 GHz band for Wi-Fi deployment?

The 26 GHz band, typically used for 5G services, is now being considered for Wi-Fi deployment. This is important because it allows operators to use millimeter-wave technology to extend Wi-Fi coverage, bypassing the limitations of the 5 GHz unlicensed band.

What concerns are raised about the power transmission level for customer premises equipment (CPE)?

The TEC draft proposes a 55 dBm power transmission for CPE, which is equivalent to 316 watts. This is unusually high for CPE and could pose significant health risks due to electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure, especially since there are no specifications for antenna gain or beam shaping.

Why is the lack of antenna gain specification problematic?

The absence of an antenna gain specification allows for the possibility of a wider radiation beam, which could increase interference and EMF exposure. A sharper beam, which typically requires specified antenna gain, helps to focus the energy and reduce risks of interference.

What are the potential health risks associated with high power transmission from CPE?

High power transmission from CPE, especially without defined antenna gain or beam shaping, could result in excessive EMF exposure. This poses health risks, particularly for individuals in close proximity to the CPE, including children and residents in public access areas.

How does the proposed 55 dBm power compare to typical IMT base stations?

The proposed 55 dBm power for CPE is 150 times higher than typical IMT base stations, which usually operate around 33 dBm (2 watts). This significant difference in power levels raises concerns about EMF exposure and public health risks.

What changes does the video suggest to improve the TEC's draft specifications?

The video suggests that the TEC should limit the Effective Radiated Power (ERP) for CPE, mandate antenna gain specifications to ensure beam shaping, and enforce EMF compliance at the CPE level to avoid the risk of CPE acting like a macro base station.

What is the minimum safe distance for CPE with 55 dBm power, according to the calculations?

The calculations suggest that the minimum safe distance for CPE with 55 dBm power is around 2.25 meters, which would require a 3-meter pole to keep people safely away from the device, especially since the CPE will be continuously active and may serve multiple users.