Exploring Electromagnetic Field Exposure in the Age of Non-Terrestrial Networks

The induction of non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) to support the operation of terrestrial networks (TNs) in underserved and remote areas has been gaining traction in standardization venues. The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has been discussing the introduction of NTNs to the fifth generation (5G) new radio (NR) since Release-15, where they conducted several studies to explore use-cases, network architectures, protocols, deployment scenarios, and possible challenges to the realization of NTNs in 5G and beyond. With these recent developments in technology, uncertainties concerning the levels of electromagnetic field (EMF) exposure to humans and the environments may arise. In this work, we highlight the aspects that are relevant in assessing EMF exposure while taking into consideration the implications of introducing NTNs to future communication networks.