From Bell’s Photophone to the Light Age: How Wireless Took a Wrong Turn — and How We Correct It
Independent Voices
RF Safe
Nov 29, 2025
This RF Safe commentary argues that wireless communications “took a wrong turn” by prioritizing radiofrequency/microwave transmission over light-based approaches, citing Alexander Graham Bell’s 1880 photophone as an alternative model. It suggests that widespread, continuous RF exposure in modern environments is…
In Situ Assessment of Uplink Duty Cycles for 4G and 5G Wireless Communications.
Research
RF Safe Research Library
Jan 1, 2024
This exposure assessment measured in situ smartphone uplink duty cycles for 4G LTE and 5G NR across six voice, video, and data use cases. Measurements were taken at ten positions near a 4G and 5G base-station site in Belgium. Reported duty cycles varied by application, with some use cases showing low-to-moderate duty…
AN EMPIRICAL STUDY: THE IMPACT OF THE NUMBER OF USERS ON ELECTRIC FIELD STRENGTH OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS.
Research
RF Safe Research Library
Jan 1, 2018
This study used real-time measurements on a university campus to examine how the number of users relates to RF electric field strength from cellular systems and a Wi-Fi access point. The authors report empirical models that estimate E from user counts, with stated accuracies of 86% for cellular-related measurements…