Balancing between Data Efficiency and RF-EMF Exposure Reduction Via Beam Switching in 5G mm-Wave Channel

The rollout of 5G networks is approaching a mature stage globally. This study conducts an exposure assessment in a real-world static indoor environment at 27 GHz. The main goal is to investigate whether beam switching can maintain high data throughput for a user while reducing exposure levels for a non-user. To this aim, we adopt an innovative framework based on a channel sounder able to satisfy the challenging measurements of mm-Wave frequency. This approach allowed us to explore and compare the effectiveness of three different beamforming scenarios. The investigation focuses on diminishing RF-EMF exposure in both line-of-sight and non-line-of-sight situations. The study’s results indicate that it is feasible to use a single beam configuration to meet the required throughput for a targeted user, while also minimizing exposure for another user in a specific location. Additionally, the study contrasts this innovative approach with traditional methods, underscoring the crucial balance between data efficiency and reduced exposure.