New rooftop technology tests: Standards ensure safe and resilient networks

Standards Australia is tapping into new sixth-generation (6G) cellular technology testing of electromagnetic energy (EME) to help ensure standards deliver safe and improved technology and connectivity for all Australians.

Rod Balding, Standards Australia CEO, said recent rooftop testing was an important next step to keep Australians well connected and safe: “Where global standards cross paths with new technologies, Australia is at the forefront of keeping people are safe. While we are five years away from 6G going live in Australia we are already ahead of the rest of the world with leading standards to test this technology.”

Australian standards are regularly involved in testing everyday consumer items, such as children’s furniture and lawnmowers, as well as common infrastructure such as roadway signage. Rod said safety testing takes place across laboratories, workshops and businesses every day.  

“Along with our testing partners, it is exciting to be part of the testing that underpins new technology standardisation for 6G.”

EME safety limits are set by national and international health agencies and use specialised field probes set by the IEC and Standards Australia. Mike Wood, IEC Standardization Management Board member and former chair of an international technical committee, took part in recent pre-6G EME testing in Melbourne with a range of industry experts. More are scheduled in Queensland in 2026.

“Standards form part of an international ecosystem where scientists, experts, industry, regulators, and standards experts collaborate to refine testing requirements and safety limits,” Mike says.

“Australia is engaged in 6G testing workshops that demonstrate the latest mobile test methods and test equipment with the IEC and most advance technology.” Recent standardisation changes by IEC followed exposure testing of electromagnetics.

IEC have published:

• IEC 62232:2025 Determination of RF field strength, power density and SAR in the vicinity of base stations for the purpose of evaluating human exposure
• IEC/IEEE 63184:2025 Assessment methods of the human exposure to electric and magnetic fields from wireless power transfer systems - Models, instrumentation, measurement and computational methods and procedures (frequency range of 3 kHz to 30 MHz)
• IEC TR 63424-1:2024 Validation of dynamic power control and exposure time-averaging algorithms - Part 1: Cellular network implementations for SAR at frequencies up to 6 GHz
• SA/SNZ TR IEC 63377:2024 Procedures for the assessment of human exposure to electromagnetic fields from radiative wireless power transfer systems - Measurement and computational methods (frequency range of 30 MHz to 300 GHz)
• AS/NZS IEC/IEEE 63195.1:2024 Assessment of power density of human exposure to radio frequency fields from wireless devices in close proximity to the head and body (frequency range of 6 GHz to 300 GHz), Part 1: Measurement procedure

How did we get to 6G and what is it?

6G refers to the sixth generation of cellular technologies. It represents a technological evolution building on the existing 5G and 4G technologies. Since the first car phones in the early 1980s, mobile technology has experienced a fast and fascinating evolution:

• 1G introduced analogue voice calls and the first commercial handheld mobiles.
• 2G went digital, bringing text messaging.
• 3G saw the start of mobile internet with better multimedia capabilities such as video calling and mobile TV.
• 4G introduced mobile ultra-broadband, enabling apps on phones, revolutionizing mobile connectivity, and facilitating remote work.
• 5G, still being rolled out in many parts of the world, offers instant communication with fast connections and significantly more capacity. It supports industrial automation, autonomous vehicles as well as the development of smart cities.
• 5G Advanced is currently being deployed, including the first integration of satellite communications and AI solutions.

Will 6G be safe?  

Initial testing on pre-6G networks indicates it will be safe.

Read more from our partners the IEC: What is 6G and are we ready for it?