An editor’s reflections . The total number of mobile subscriptions in the world is now as big as the world’s population. At the same time actors in the mobile communication industry have launched a vision that makes today’s mobile use appear only as a starting point. After the third and fourth generation mobile systems such developments are now underway to the fifth generation, 5G.
The overall vision for the 5G is the Networked Society, where a massive increase of connected equipment – up to 100 times more -within diverse areas of society envisaged while the data rate to networks must be significantly increased – up to 100 times higher. This time it is not a traditional development of the previous system generations. Now, the ambition is aparadigm shift – a true connected digital society.
Performance should be raised to the limits of technology to enable applications in most sectors of society such as smart grids, remote health care, control of industrial processes, intelligent transportation systems (ITS), financial services, public safety and disaster relief (PPDR) communications, entertainment and media. The trend is thus driven by new and increased opportunities for the use of wireless technology throughout society. The precondition for the wireless system to function with optimal performance is that no EMC problems limit the use.
The EMC-field was born about 100 years ago due to the concern that that the new wireless service of broadcasting could be disturbed by emissions from electrical equipment. The rapid rise of wireless systems, both among private consumers and in critical applications, as predicted in the 5G-development therefore leads to that EMC issues become crucial to fulfill that vision fully. In the automotive industry, considerable steps in this direction have already been taken through the development of intelligent transport systems (ITS) where wireless systems, among other things, will be used for critical services within Active Road Safety.
The automotive industry is generally very visible at EMC conferences and shows examples of how EMC issues are taken seriously in their products. Thus, the automotive industry is an example of an interesting model for other industries where EMC issues can have a major impact on product performance and reliability.
With the trend towards 5G, the focus on EMC matters will further increase as the technology is predicted to affect a very large number of new application areas.
Peter Stenumgaard
EMC-editor, Electronic Environment