5G Technology Explained: What are the Results of 5G in Monaco?

A year has passed since the installation of 5G towers in Monaco, but the technology is still not available to users, we tell you why. 5G te...

A year has passed since the installation of 5G towers in Monaco, but the technology is still not available to users, we tell you why.

5G technology was launched in Monaco back on July 9, 2019, but it's still not available to ordinary users. What's the problem? Monaco-Matin journalists took a look at the situation.

"The latest systems have become much more complex and sophisticated," explains Martin Peronne, managing director of Monaco Telecom. "These technologies have evolved mainly through software, not hardware."

The reason for the delay, according to Martin Peronnet, lies in a well-known problem: "The range of compatible frequencies is relatively small. And everyone is waiting for new bands to be launched. And this classic way of introducing new technology takes time."

Ready to use the full potential of the technology

The main task is to get high-speed mobile Internet for any subscriber, but for this to happen there are several stages: the introduction of new networks, the emergence of phones that support this technology, and most importantly, the users.

"5G will show its full potential when users have access to incredible speeds. There will be tremendous opportunities, applications will begin to evolve, and users will have access to really new capabilities."

This is exactly what has happened with 4G, whose speed has created sectors of activity that didn't exist before, and the emergence of companies like Instagram, Airbnb, and Uber, which together have generated tens of billions of dollars.

The reality

To date, operators aren't even counting on individuals yet: "So far, using the real potential of 5G is only possible in government institutions and large enterprises. In Monaco, for example, the tourist Wi-Fi network is provided with 5G modems, and firefighters are actively using this technology to control reconnaissance drones, which provide high-resolution images to see if a rescue team needs to be sent to the scene. We're sure things will evolve rapidly. New useful sensors and miniature modems will be developed that will make many tasks easier."

Are 5G towers dangerous?

A development that worries. In Monaco, residents who feared being mistaken for guinea pigs banded together to form the 5G Monaco Association. Association members are concerned about the effects of electromagnetic radiation, especially millimeter waves.

The director of Monaco Telecom claims to have heard these concerns: "We've had a lot of conversations, and we have to keep discussing. I have already stated that today millimeter waves are not used in the Principality, and there are no plans to develop them. And I would like to assure you that if we are faced with this task, the national health authorities will be consulted first."