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Australia’s plan for 5G is feared to cause damaging weather radar ‘interference’

5G could face some speed limitations, a leading expert says

5G could face some speed limitations, a leading expert says Photo: The New Daily

The imminent arrival of 5G is great news for speeding up the internet on our mobiles. But there is one rather strange consequence – it could completely disrupt our weather forecasts.

To fully understand why would probably require a PhD in signal processing, but here it is in a nutshell.

Before 5G is introduced to Australia, the federal government plans to remove a group of internet service providers from one radio frequency band – let’s call this Band A – to make room for 5G, and move them to a new home (Band B).

But their new intended home – B – would need to be shared with the Bureau of Meteorology’s weather radars.

These shifts are feared to overcrowd Band B so much that it could lead to harmful interference, jeopardising the accuracy of weather predictions.

BoM-weather-radar

BoM’s network of radars providing weather forecasts to Australia could be under threat. Photo: BoM

BoM’s radars are an important source of data for the detection of weather patterns, such as rain and thunderstorms. It also uses this data to detect whether weather systems could brew into something more threatening, like a cyclone.

BoM first raised the problem with sharing its frequency band at a Senate Estimates hearing in May.

“The Bureau of Meteorology is concerned the reallocation of Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) to [Band B] could interfere with existing [weather] radars and constrain future expansion and reconfiguration of its radar network,” it said.

BoM told The New Daily it is working with the Australian Communications and Media Authority to resolve these potential interference problems but refused to provide any further detail on its concerns.

Andrew Dowse, defence research and engagement director at Edith Cowan University, said that having inaccurate weather data from BoM radars could influence people’s decision to put the washing out to dry – but also, more importantly, impair their ability to receive severe weather warnings.

“The concern is that someone, say in the next town, is using the same band of frequencies that BoM uses – to support their wireless broadband connection – and that these users may interfere with each other,” he said.

“If interference does happen, it has the potential to impact anyone anywhere in Australia who relies on weather information.”

Signal-processing expert Dr Brian Ng likened the problem to noise interference in a crowded room.

“The greater the number of people speaking, the more difficult it is to hold a conversation,” he said.

ACMA extended the consultation deadline from June 15 by an additional two weeks until June 29, allowing more time to take these considerations into account and hear further submissions.

An ACMA spokeswoman said that protecting weather radar operations will be a “paramount” consideration.

“[Band B] is used at locations around the country for weather radars. However, not all of the spectrum is used and there is the opportunity to allow sharing with other services on terms that protect the functionality of BoM’s critical infrastructure,” she said.

What will 5G mean for internet consumers?

5G – the fifth generation – is expected to provide higher peak internet speeds and lower latency (time delays) in responsiveness, while allowing more people to use higher speeds at the same time.

It will speed up downloads up to 10 gigabits per second, with some estimates indicating speeds will be as much as 1000 times faster than 4G.

During early 5G trials, Vodafone claimed 5G would support speeds equivalent to downloading an entire season of Game of Thrones in high definition in just 10 seconds.

You will need to buy a new smartphone that is compatible with 5G – but these are yet to be released. Market analysts predict it could still be a year until we see these new devices in stores.

The major telcos are planning to roll out the service to consumers next year, with widespread use pegged for 2020.

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