**9. 5G and the environment**

The introduction of 5G technology has a significant impact on the environment. 5G has the potential to exacerbate environmental issues like rising energy consumption and technological waste.

### **9.1 Benefits of 5G for the environment**

Given that the long-term effects of this new technology are unknown, the environmental impact of 5G is cause for concern. However, there may also be environmental advantages to 5G. The reduction of emissions and energy consumption is one of the most significant advantages. According to international standards, 5G should use much less power to operate than 4G, thereby transmitting more data while using less power. In 4G, for instance, 300 high-definition movies can only be downloaded with

#### **Figure 9.** *5G technology revolutionizing healthcare [72].*

one kWh of electricity; One kWh of 5G capacity can download 5000 HD movies. Data centers in 2020 were using 73 billion kWh of energy due to the increased efficiency of 5G technology [73].

5G is significantly more energy-efficient than previous generations of mobile networks, according to research conducted by the University of Zurich and Empa [74]. The study also concluded that applications like flexible working and smart grid technology that uses 5G have a lot of potentials to save energy and protect the environment [74]. Together with the increased use of environmentally friendly energy sources, real-time monitoring of the built environment has the potential to cut carbon emissions by 67.9 million metric tons [75]. This reduction will be made possible by energy grids, smart meters, and energy management systems that are enabled by 5G [75].

With IoT and 5G, we can fully comprehend the impact on the environment and respond accordingly [76]. Stakeholders will be able to forecast, optimize, and measure the impact of the environment using real-time data as 5G is implemented globally [76]. Once the right infrastructure is in place, 5G may also enable a new phase of the green revolution. Experts are hopeful that the increased speed of data sensors will result in a more efficient than ever real-time energy conservation system [76].

*Perspective Chapter: 5G Enabling Technologies – Revolutionizing Transport, Environment... DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.111671*

Although the long-term environmental effects of 5G are unknown, there may be advantages to using this new technology. Real-time monitoring of the built environment, as well as the facilitation of the green revolution, are some of the potential benefits of 5G. But it is critical to keep an eye on how 5G affects the environment and take steps to minimize any negative effects.

#### **9.2 Challenges and limitations**

Notwithstanding the advantages, there are several challenges and restrictions related to 5G and its effects on the environment. The challenges include but are not limited to:


### **10. 5G and edge computing**

Edge computing aims to move decision-making operations as close as possible to data by extending cloud computing services to the network's edge [77]. Edge computing is turning out to be progressively famous because of the developing interest in constant information handling and the need to diminish dormancy [78]. The architecture of edge computing consists of three layers: a cloud layer, an edge layer, and a device layer [78] as illustrated in **Figure 10**. Sensors, actuators, and other devices that gather data make up the device layer. Edge servers, gateways, and other data-processing devices make up the edge layer. Cloud servers, which store data and provide cloud services, make up the cloud layer [78].

#### **10.1 Benefits of edge computing**

There are several benefits to edge computing, including:

• Reduced latency: Edge computing can significantly shorten the time it takes for data to travel from the source to the processing unit by processing it locally,

**Figure 10.** *Edge computing architecture.*

resulting in faster response times [79]. This is especially important for applications like telemedicine, autonomous vehicles, and smart cities that require processing in real-time or near real-time [80].


single-edge device's failure is less likely to have an impact on the entire network, this decentralized approach can also improve system resilience.

Edge computing offers advantages which include decreased latency, reduced bandwidth consumption, enhanced data privacy and security, and increased scalability. Edge computing is an appealing option for a wide range of applications, particularly those that involve large-scale data collection and real-time processing.

### **10.2 The benefits of 5G and edge computing**

The combination of 5G and edge computing offers several key benefits, including:

