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Resources | 4G vs 5G Rooftop RF Beam Comparison

What This Graphic Shows

This beam map compares the same rooftop before and after a 4G site is upgraded to high-power 5G C-Band. The yellow and red areas mark zones of elevated RF exposure at roof level, including spaces that staff, contractors, and the public can legally access today.


On the left, a 4G 700 MHz system operates at 120 watts of input power and roughly 2,000 watts of radiated power. On the right, the 5G upgrade drives input to 320 watts and radiated power to about 75,000 watts—roughly 25–35 times higher than the earlier system on the same roof.

How the RF Footprint Changes With 5G

The issue is not just more power, but a different RF footprint. With 5G beamforming, the “bloom” of energy shifts and concentrates, pushing higher-power zones into areas that were previously considered safe, including:


  • Public stairwells and access doors
  • Routine worker paths and service areas
  • Building edges, windows, and sidewalks at grade
     

On paper, these are often described as “minor” upgrades. In reality, the exposure profile for the site has been fundamentally altered.

Why This Matters for Cities and EHS Teams

When high-power 5G rebuilds are processed as minor modifications under Section 6409, cities may never see updated RF modeling or worker-safety analysis. That can leave:


  • Municipalities unknowingly approving sites that exceed earlier exposure assumptions
  • EHS and risk teams without a clear map of no-go zones and safe work routes
  • Staff, contractors, and nearby occupants exposed to beams that were never part of the original permit record
     

Beam comparisons like this make the change visible. They show, in a single rooftop view, why high-power 5G upgrades require independent RF review, updated conditions of approval, and clear access controls—not just a recycled 4G checklist.

Putting the RF Footprint at the Center of Oversight

Beam comparisons like this are not about a single building; they illustrate how modern 5G equipment can reshape RF exposure on any rooftop, pole, or structure. When the full RF footprint is modeled, cities and regulators can see exactly how far high-power beams reach, how exclusion zones shift, and where everyday access now overlaps with higher fields.


Used this way, RF footprints become the starting point for policy and enforcement, not an afterthought:


  • Classification – Distinguishing true major modifications from minor 6409 changes based on measurable exposure, not just paperwork labels.
     
  • Process – Justifying public hearings, updated conditions of approval, and RF safety plans where the footprint clearly demands it.
     
  • Protection – Defining no-go zones, safe work routes, and signage standards that match real beam behavior, not outdated assumptions.
     
  • Value – Aligning lease terms, fees, and indemnity with the actual scale and impact of the upgraded installation.
     

The principle is simple: once the RF footprint is in the record, 5G and future 6G deployments can be evaluated on what they are doing in space, not how they are described in an application. That shift is what turns RF modeling from a graphic into a governance tool.

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