(855) 771-3154
The fifth generation of wireless technology, 5G is known to have brought transformative advancement to the connectivity landscape. The 5G network technology brought faster data speed, low latency, and enhanced capacity.
Every technology is known to have its implications and 5G Internet is no different. In this blog, we will discuss the detrimental environmental impact of 5G.
The long-term negative impacts of 5G are not certain, however, new facts are being uncovered as the technology is getting older. There are serious concerns about its ramifications on the environment. Let’s discuss them in detail.
1. Energy Consumption
Around 65% of the world’s population will have access to 5G technology by the end of 2025. The current 7.2 GB monthly data usage average is expected to rise to 24 GB per month. This indicates a steady rise from the current electricity demand of the ICT industry of 4% to a whopping 20% by 2030. What is more, the IT sector is responsible for 14% of the worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.
Data storage centers and cloud computing websites that store information use excessive energy. It has been ascertained that we are looking at a bleak future for the environment. The only way this crisis can be averted is if we make the infrastructure sustainable, control the emissions, and find more energy-efficient ways to make the system work.
2. Disturbance to Natural Life and Ecosystem
When we talk about how 5G is affecting the Flora and Fauna and their natural habitat, millimeter waves come up. Due to these waves, scientists have discovered adverse impacts on various species. The most prominent of these species are birds and their ecosystems.
Since some bird species travel seasonally and maintain direction based on their environmental cues, the 5G technology seems to have impacted their migrating patterns for the worse. There have been instances of flocks being lost or landing in unsuitable terrain after exhaustion.
Some researchers experimented with sparrows and found that they started laying disfigured and non-viable eggs. This happened after being exposed to a cell tower for as little as 5 to 30 minutes. This impact is not only restricted to birds, bees are also known to sustain detrimental effects of 5G radiation.
In an experiment, when healthy and thriving beehives were exposed to 900 MHz waves, the colony collapsed and the bees perished. The rapid development of infrastructure like towers etc. has disrupted many ecosystems with deforestation and wildlife disturbances.
3. E-waste
To function, 5G technology requires the latest technology in devices. This renders older cell phone models and other IoT devices useless. If there are no recycling or buy-back plans from the company, these devices end up in trashcans and ultimately a landfill. This leads to a large amount of e-waste.
All of the above debate might have you wondering if there are so many negative environmental impacts of 5G, why is it expanding so rapidly? The answer to that is simple: It is a more capable technology. It has higher speeds, enhanced reliability, and miniscule latency.
How to Counter the Negative Impacts of 5G on the Environment?
5G paves the way for futuristic user experience and deployment models. With these positive aspects of this technology in mind, we must make improvements to its infrastructure to make it more sustainable. Let’s discuss some steps that can potentially counter the negative impacts of 5G.
The Bottom Line
It is considered that 5G networks are 90% more energy efficient than 4G. However, this impact is being negated because of the increasing density and traffic. This is making 5G technology consume 4 to 5 times more energy than its predecessor. This impact can only be reversed by devising strategies that make the expansion of 5G less disruptive to the ecosystems, more energy-efficient, and more sustainable.
