COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF 2G AND 5G TECHNOLOGY IN THE FRAMEWORK OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

Purpose – The paper aims to compare the radio 5G technologies coverage instead of actual 2G by using MATLAB simulations facilities, with focus on the equipment and coverage area in emergency situations, by comparing performances in ideal conditions and promote the characteristics of the new technology, considering the real case data from the plane crash in Transylvania Apuseni Mountains. Methodology/approach – The analysis is based on the two different scenarios: 2G and 5G transmitter antennas, using MATLAB software and a free-space ideal propagation model for the coverage areas evaluation. Findings – The simulations resulted displayed that coverage area with 2G antennas is higher (10,000 meters) compared to the 5G antennas (5,000 meters). Nevertheless, 5G antennas delivered a higher data transfer and a much lower latency, which made them prone for using fast data transmission and the possibility of artificial intelligence embedment. Research limitations/implications – The case study analysis is based on a simplified MATLAB propagation model. Future work should incorporate more real geospatial data to validate the findings revealed by this initial study. Practical implications – The findings suggest that implementing a 2G-5G technology hybrid system in mountain regions leverages 2G's broad coverage and 5G's high-speed data transmission. This integration involves placing 2G base stations in valleys, and 5G stations on peaks for optimal coverage. Originality/value – This study uniquely combines the context of a real-world emergency scenario with a theoretical comparative analysis of 2G and 5G technologies using MATLAB simulations.