Since mobile operators in Macao launched 5G commercial services in late 2022, the percentage of 5G subscribers and the monthly local mobile data usage has reached 38.5% and 7,336 TB respectively in September 2023. While 5G network continues to deploy and the number of 5G subscribers grows, the general public continues to pay attention to the radio-frequency (RF) radiation safety issue of mobile base stations. In 2006, 2007, 2012, 2016 and 2020, the government invited the University of Macao to carry out studies on the RF radiation safety of mobile base stations in Macao. Previous studies showed that the RF radiation levels of mobile base stations in Macao were in compliance with the safety standard of the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

As the frequency bands continue to expand gradually and mobile base stations are deployed increasingly due to the launch of 5G networks, the RF radiation environment in Macao is expected to change. Therefore, Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau believes that there is a need to carry out a study again to evaluate and measure the RF radiation levels in order to keep up with the latest situation. In view of this, the Bureau commissioned “UMTec Limited”, which is a subsidiary wholly owned by the University of Macao, to carry out the Study Project on the Radio-Frequency Radiation Safety in Macao in 2023.

Referring to the measurement methods and the relevant non-ionizing radiation safety standards in the latest ICNIRP (2020) guidelines, this study was conducted at 160 public locations in Macao to measure the RF radiation intensity transmitted by the 3G, 4G and 5G mobile base stations in the downlink frequency bands.

The study report shows that among the selected 160 test locations, the RF radiation levels of 76.9% (123) test locations are within or equal to 0.5% of the ICNIRP’s safety limit, 21.3% (34) test locations are between 0.5% and 5% of the safety limit, 1.9% (3) test locations are between 5% and 50% of the safety limit, and no test location exceeds the safety limit. In summary this study reflects the fact that the RF radiation in Macao is generally at a low level.

The study report has also conducted a comparative analysis of the changes of Macao’s RF radiation environment in 2023 and 2020. In response to the launch of 5G commercial services, coupled with the expansion of frequency bands utilized by 5G networks and the increase of 5G base stations, the RF radiation level shows a trend to slightly shift towards a higher level. However, the RF radiation transmitted by mobile base stations remains low in general and the measured radiation levels at all test locations comply with ICNIRP’s safety standard. According to ICNIRP (2020) guideline, the non-ionizing radiation with a level below the safety standard limit will not have a negative impact on the health of the public.