IEEE Access study: beam switching can cut bystander RF-EMF exposure in 5G mmWave networks by up to 6 dB

A study in IEEE Access by Malik, Schulpen, Johannsen and Bronckers investigates beam switching with transmit-power control as an exposure-reduction strategy for 5G millimeter-wave networks at 27 GHz. In this setup, beam switching means the base station changes between narrow directional transmit beams instead of keeping one reference beam fixed, aiming signal energy toward the user while reducing spillover at nearby non-user locations. Using a wide-band channel sounder measuring three transmit beam directions across open fields, vegetation, urban corridors and offices, the authors compare user data throughput against RF-EMF exposure at non-user locations. The approach cut non-user exposure by roughly 2 to 3.7 dB outdoors and 0.9 to 6 dB indoors versus the reference method, at a 0.9 dB higher median radiated power, while sustaining throughput up to 800 Mbps.

"The proposed beam-switching approach achieved an exposure reduction of approximately 2 to 3.7 dB in outdoor environments and 0.9 to 6 dB in indoor environments compared to the reference method."

— Malik et al., IEEE Access

"The results demonstrate the potential of adaptive beam-switching and power control to balance high user throughput (up to 800 Mbps) with minimized exposure in realistic 5G mmWave deployments."

— Malik et al., IEEE Access

📄 Underlying Research

Investigation of the Potential of Beam Switching for Reduced RF-EMF Exposure in 5G mmWave Networks

Malik S, Schulpen R, Johannsen U, Bronckers LA (2026) IEEE Access Journal Level 1ⓘ

🔗 DOI

📡 IEEE Access study: beam switching can cut bystander RF-EMF exposure in 5G mmWave networks by up to 6 dB

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📄 Underlying Research

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