Multi-Technology Multi-Operator Site Sharing: Compliance Distance Analysis for EMF Exposure

Abstract

In recent years, the development of wireless technologies has led to fast growth in mobile networks, especially with the rise of 5G New Radio (5G NR). A huge number of base stations (BSs) are mandatory to serve the growth of mobile services, which has led to concerns about the increase in electromagnetic field (EMF) radiation exposure levels. To control the overall power emitted by EMF transmitters, international bodies have set maximum exposure limits. This paper investigates the compliance distances (CDs) of shared sites by a group of Mobile Network Operators (MNO) as multi-operators operating with multi-technology and sharing the same tower. The study investigated the CDs of the most two commonly used types of sharing sites, macro and indoor-Based solution sites (IBS). In addition, the study analyzed the power densities and total exposure ratios for the general public and occupational workers in each sharing scenario. The results showed that, compared with a single MNO, the CD increased by 41% in the case of two MNOs, 73% for three MNOs, and 100% for four MNOs. The EMF site sharing scale-up formula was used to estimate the increase in CDs for N number of MNOs assuming that all MNOs use the same site configuration. In addition, the results showed that 5G has the highest contribution to the total exposure ratio (TER) at the CD in the main direction of the antennae.