How to Characterize Power Lock Systems for Limiting Exposure to Electromagnetic Radiation Generated by 5G MaMIMO Systems

The use of Massive MIMO (MaMIMO) active antennas in 5G networks is one of the most relevant features of the new radio interface because they can synthesize radiation beams in the direction of users who require service, ensuring an improvement in the quality of the received signal. Current standards establish that EMF simulation requires a statistical approach based on the actual maximum transmitted power. This power is defined as the 95 ^th percentile of transmissible antenna power and could be determined through the empirical distribution of historical power data. To meet compliance to exposure limits, mobile operators must ensure that the threshold set for actual maximum transmitted power is respected. Therefore, many antennas manufacturers are equipping their products with automatic power adjustment mechanisms called Power Lock systems. In this paper, we suggest how to characterize such control systems, and investigate their capability to limit exposure.