5G Frequency Range 2 (FR2), commonly known as millimeter-wave (mmWave), operates within the 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz spectrum range. While mmWave has been used for decades in applications requiring high frequency and bandwidth, its integration into 5G networks represents a new phase in mobile communication.

Historically, mmWave technology has been applied in radar systems (including automotive and aerospace radar), satellite communication, point-to-point communication links, security imaging scanners, and industrial sensing and measurement equipment. In these applications, public exposure was typically incidental and minimal, with workers protected by occupational safety regulations.

Current Use of 5G FR2

Key Applications of 5G FR2

Today, 5G FR2 is not only used for point-to-point links but is also deployed for several key applications, including:

• Backhaul and fronthaul communication
• Hotspot 5G access
• Fixed wireless access

Human Exposure Context

With 5G FR2, however, exposure can occur both in public and private spaces, including within homes, especially when devices like mmWave-enabled smartphones are used. This is due to both 5G FR2-enabled base stations and user devices contributing to exposure in everyday environments.

Public exposure to FR2 is currently limited but is expected to rise as FR2 networks expand. In many countries, mmWave is still in trial or early deployment stages, with broad consumer coverage yet to come. However, commercial 5G cellular networks that include FR2 are already operational in the following countries:

• United States
• Japan

Other countries that have early deployment activity or have allocated mmWave spectrum (with some limited commercial use) include:

• Germany
• Italy
• Finland
• Spain
• Australia
• Taiwan
• Hong Kong
• Singapore

Further Research Needs in Relation to FR2

According to the German Radiation Protection Commission (SSK), scientific understanding of the biological and health effects of 5G millimeter-wave frequencies (FR2), especially those above 24 GHz, is still limited. This is mainly because these waves are absorbed primarily at the surface of the body, which makes it harder to assess their effects on deeper tissues.

The Commission emphasizes the need for more research on FR2 frequencies used in telecommunications and advocates for methodologically rigorous studies to better assess potential health risks. Importantly, they do not call for halting the 5G rollout, but instead encourage ongoing monitoring and continued research.

Key Areas of Focus for Future Research:

• Effects on the skin and eyes, as these are the most exposed parts of the body.
• Biological processes mediated through the skin, particularly effects on the nervous system and immune responses.
• Long-term effects, both in humans and animal models, to understand chronic exposure risks.
• Thermal and non-thermal effects, with particular interest in potential non-thermal mechanisms that could affect health.

Several ongoing European research projects aim to address these gaps, and their findings will be critical for guiding future policy and health recommendations in regions like Germany, where FR2 frequencies are being actively considered for broader use. Citation: Radiation Protection Commission, “Electromagnetic fields from mobile communications in the context of the current 5G network rollout: Technical aspects and biological effects in the upper frequency range (FR2, above approx. 24 GHz)”, Statement of the Radiation Protection Commission, January 21, 2026. Link to the statement | Link to the full report (PDF).

Continued research into FR2 frequencies is crucial to ensure public health safety and inform policy decisions on 5G deployment.

Germany’s FR2 Statement

Germany is not calling for a halt to the deployment of 5G FR2 frequencies (the higher millimeter-wave bands, above 24 GHz). Instead, Germany’s Radiation Protection Commission (SSK) is emphasizing continued monitoring and further research into potential health effects rather than suspending the rollout. While Germany has not opposed the use of FR2 frequencies, it has clearly identified gaps in the current scientific evidence and is urging additional studies to ensure that public health remains adequately protected.

The Complexities of EMF Research and Safety Guidelines

Organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) state that millimeter waves, including those used in 5G FR2, are unlikely to cause harm when exposure remains within established safety limits. These guidelines focus primarily on thermal effects (tissue heating), which are well-understood and supported by extensive evidence. At the same time, WHO and ICNIRP acknowledge that research gaps remain, particularly at higher frequencies such as those used in FR2.

While major health organizations continue to uphold the adequacy of current safety standards, some independent scientific reviews argue that these guidelines primarily focus on thermal effects, potentially overlooking long-term or non-thermal mechanisms. However, not all accept these critiques, and they remain part of ongoing scientific debate. Despite this, the prevailing consensus among health organizations is that current exposure limits are sufficient to protect against established adverse health effects.

Further Reading

Maritime 5G and Marine Ecosystems https://www.emfsa.co.za/news/maritime-5g-and-marine-ecosystems/

References

A Look at the Current Status of 5G and Millimeter Waves at Home and Abroad [Part 1] — Frequency Allocation and Commercial Service Launch https://www.telegraphic.jp/en/2023/12/19/

5G Frequency Bands & Spectrum Allocations

How expert bodies assess mobile communications https://www.telekom.com/en/corporate-responsibility/environment/details/how-expert-bodies-assess-mobile-communications-361642

Fact Sheet: GSMA 5G mmWave https://www.gsma.com/get-involved/gsma-foundry/gsma_resources/gsma-5g-mmwave-fact-sheet/

Author’s note
This article was conceived and written by the author. AI-based tools were used to assist with language refinement, formatting, and clarity.

Image adapted from a photo by gryffyn m on Unsplash

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We look at energy saving LED street lights, EMF research (5G, mm waves) and more….

Link to the newsletter:

https://mailchi.mp/emfsa/led-streetlights-5g-research

The post EMFSA August 2022 Newsletter appeared first on EMFSA.

The book can be downloaded for free:  (198 page pdf)
https://www.orsaa.org/uploads/6/7/7/9/67791943/frequencies_used_in_telecommunications__an_integrated_radiobiological_assessment.pdf

Sources:

ORSAA Oceania Radiofrequency Scientific Advisory Association Inc
https://www.orsaa.org/

EMR Australia PL https://emraustralia.com.au/

The post Frequencies used in Telecommunications: An Integrated Radiobiological Assessment, by Yuri G. Grigoriev appeared first on EMFSA.

December 19, 2020

All you need to know about 5G

http://backreaction.blogspot.com/2020/12/all-you-need-to-know-about-5g.html

The post Physicist Sabine Hossenfelder on 5G appeared first on EMFSA.

Abstract: With the development of 5th generation (5G) networks the operating frequencies have been progressively expanding towards millimeter waves (MMW). In some exposure scenarii, presence of textiles impacts the interaction of the electromagnetic field radiated by wireless devices with human tissues. We investigate the impact of a textile layer in contact or in proximity of skin on the power transmission coefficient, absorbed power density and temperature rise using a near-surface tissue model at 26 GHz and 60 GHz. Cotton and wool are considered as representative textiles. Our results demonstrate that the textile in contact with skin increases the absorbed power density up to 41.5% at 26 GHz and 34.4% at 60 GHz. The presence of an air gap between a textile and skin modifies the electromagnetic power deposition in the tissues depending on the thicknesses and permittivity. The temperature rise increases compared to the nude skin by up to 52% at 26 GHz and 46% at 60 GHz with the textile in direct contact with skin. With an air gap, for typical textile thicknesses, the temperature variations range from -3.5% to 20.6% and from -11.1% to 20.9% at 26 GHz and 60 GHz, respectively.

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9280334

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By Don Scansen  11.10.2020

The 5G era is well underway, though the rollout is still relatively new, and with only a few handsets capable of all the available spectrum, there are still questions that consume column space.

The upper portion of the spectrum offers opportunities to investigate since the mmWave band at 28 GHz currently available is new to the consumer market. Higher frequencies are coming later. Extra high frequency, or EHF, is the moniker for 30 to 300 GHz which may provide a clue as to why there are people who want to understand potential health impacts before they embrace this new technology.

Although the upper reaches of the 5G spectrum offer both higher potential bandwidths and open frequency allocations now given to cellular service, this range of frequencies suffers from very high atmospheric attenuation. That raises the potential for higher power outputs required at antennas in order to reliably connect a user to a base station cell.

But the open air attenuation is just part of the issue. The use of mmWave frequencies is new, but another issue is not. The flesh and blood and bone of the user will also absorb the RF energy. I will not address the potential biological reaction to the mmWave energy. Whether or not the user will experience physical effects, the hand or head (or any body part) will definitely reduce if not outright eliminate RF signal propagation for 5G (at least you hope the output power is in the range that makes this true).

Read more at: https://www.eetimes.com/5g-antennas-stay-out-of-the-way/

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Source: Microwave News

microwavenews.com

Twitter (@microwavenews)

Denis Habauzit’s group Inserm exposed three batches of the same type of skin cells, each from a different source, to 60.4 GHz millimeter waves in “exactly the same way” and looked at changes in gene expression. They saw divergent responses.

For the 3 samples, they found the expression of some genes went up, others went down and some were unchanged: “Surprisingly, we found three different expression profiles despite using identical exposure conditions.” Note keratinocytes are the most common type of skin cells.

The clear message: An important variable is unaccounted for. Keep this in mind when evaluating 5G experimental findings on skin cells – as well as other studies.

The work was sponsored by Anses which favors precaution and more health research, especially for 5G radiation.

See:

-Jan 27TH: In new report, ANSES the French health & environment agency, wants to learn more about impacts of 5G http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=fr&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.anses.fr%2Ffr%2Fcontent%2Fd%25C3%25A9ploiement-de-la-5g-en-france-l%25E2%2580%2599anses-se-mobilise-pour-%25C3%25A9valuer-les-risques-pour-la-sant%25C3%25A9

-Major new report from ANSES on power-frequency EMFs out today. French govt recommends precaution especially for children and pregnant women. Also: No high-voltage lines & substations near schools & hospitals. … And more research.

From Jerry Phillips, then in Ross Adey’s lab in Loma Linda, now at UCCS: “Back in 1988, Motorola criticized my comet studies which were done with a single cell line because the responses went up, down, stayed the same with different exposure regimens.. “Even when I used the same procedures, effects, while generally the same, differed in magnitude. This wasn’t earth-shattering science then, nor is it now. No matter how hard you try to maintain things the same when you work with cultured cells, you can’t, period.”

Dariusz Leszczynski:

My group published similar research in 2006 and 2010 studies on genes and on proteins, respectively.

Proteomics. 2006 Sep;6(17):4769-80. doi: 10.1002/pmic.200600076.

Proteome Sci. 2010 Oct 18;8:52. doi: 10.1186/1477-5956-8-52.

Source: Microwave News@MicrowaveNews

EMFSA: twitter accessed via a hardwired computer.

The post A paper from France that calls for caution when interpreting conflicting experimental findings, especially for 5G studies appeared first on EMFSA.

Source: https://betweenrockandhardplace.wordpress.com/2020/09/08/leszczynski-there-is-something-utterly-wrong-with-the-icnirp-membership/

Leszczynski:

… this blog is long so, please be patient and read to the end…

Yesterday, I have written, yet again and as for the last nearly 20 years, that ICNIRP is a private club. Its new members are selected by the current members. There are no published criteria for the selection of new members. Nobody checks whether the selected experts are sufficiently good experts.

There is no responsibility, before nobody, for what and how ICNIRP does.

What if time will show that ICNIRP review of science was incorrect? Nothing, at least to ICNIRP members… but it could be a big problem for the telecom industry and us, the users.

On the contrary to claims by ICNIRP and by telecoms, it is difficult to believe that the telecoms do not influence who will be elected to ICNIRP Main Commission and don’t influence how the scientific evidence is interpreted by ICNIRP.

It is logically certain that some kind of lobbying happens.

Thinking otherwise is illogical. Just imagine the multi-billion-worth telecom industry to meekly wait for what ICNIRP does. It would be completely irresponsible for the telecom bosses. They need to be certain that ICNIRP guidelines are designed as necessary to continue business as usual.

With the “new” guidelines, ICNIRP gave carte blanche to the telecom industry.

Read more at: https://betweenrockandhardplace.wordpress.com/2020/09/08/leszczynski-there-is-something-utterly-wrong-with-the-icnirp-membership/

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Dariusz Leszczynski

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/reveh-2020-0056 | Published online: 24 Aug 2020

Abstract

The currently ongoing deployment if the fifth generation of the wireless communication technology, the 5G technology, has reignited the health debate around the new kind of radiation that will be used/emitted by the 5G devices and networks – the millimeter-waves. The new aspect of the 5G technology, that is of concern to some of the future users, is that both, antennas and devices will be continuously in a very close proximity of the users’ bodies. Skin is the only organ of the human body, besides the eyes, that will be directly exposed to the mm-waves of the 5G technology. However, the whole scientific evidence on the possible effects of millimeter-waves on skin and skin cells, currently consists of only some 99 studies. This clearly indicates that the scientific evidence concerning the possible effects of millimeter-waves on humans is insufficient to devise science-based exposure limits and to develop science-based human health policies. The sufficient research has not been done and, therefore, precautionary measures should be considered for the deployment of the 5G, before the sufficient number of quality research studies will be executed and health risk, or lack of it, scientifically established.

The post Physiological effects of millimeter-waves on skin and skin cells: an overview of the to-date published studies appeared first on EMFSA.

Notice of the withdrawal: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32668870/

Criticism of the opinion piece:

Worst paper of 2020? 5G and Coronavirus induction

 https://scienceintegritydigest.com/2020/07/23/worst-paper-of-2020-5g-and-coronavirus-induction/

The post WITHDRAWN: 5G Technology and induction of coronavirus in skin cells appeared first on EMFSA.