[desine]

There's also the issue that with 5G phased array antennae, tx power limits are not restricted as tightly. With a standard single tx antenna, it's easy to calculate the amount of EM energy it can create in the 3D space around the antenna. With phased array beamforming, you're using using multiple small antennae and amplifying the signal beyond the sum of the individual outputs. The safety ratings for EM radiation around phased arrays tend not to be calculated on the theoretical maximum TX power, but on the typical usage. The result is that with low enough level access to the firmware, someone could theoretically weaponize a 5G antenna to produce unsafe levels of RF energy, as well as aim the antenna without physically moving the hardware.

This sounds far-fetched, and it is, but I wouldn't be surprised if we see it done in a lab, like some of the other practically infeasible but bleeding edge cool hacks.

[jdiez17]

> With phased array beamforming, you're using using multiple small antennae and amplifying the signal beyond the sum of the individual outputs.

No, that's impossible. The RF power imparted onto the EM field by any antenna array is equal to or less than the sum of the output power of each antennae.

[MereInterest]

I think the argument is that while the total power over the full 4π is equal to the sum of the input power, the constructive/destructive interference cause there to be higher power output within some solid angle. But my understanding is that the limit are for avoiding interference from other devices, not for human safety, and that any reasonable amount of non-ionizing radiation is incredibly safe for humans. Congestion wouldn't be impacted by the beamforming, because on average any increase in intensity at one angle would be countered by a decrease at some other angle.