Security News > 2021 > November > Softbank plans to charge electronic gadgets using 5G antennas
Japanese tech giant SoftBank plans to trial wireless charging of smartwatches and earbuds using power transmitted through 5G antennas.
The small electronics will be charged automatically as soon as the wearer comes close to a mobile 5G station, and the charging will continue for as long as they're in range.
Considering the heated discussions that have taken place around 5G safety in the last years, the proposal of delivering power using electromagnetic waves and charging devices positioned right on the head of the user is bound to be met with some recoil.
According to market analysts, the wireless charging market is estimated to grow to $15.3 billion by 2026, and it appears that the roll-out of 5G will be a crucial development.
Xiaomi has also presented something similar last January, calling it Mi Air Charge, saying it can be used to remotely charge electronic devices without the need to use wireless charging stands or cables.
Its implementation uses an array of 144 tiny antennas that transmit millimeter-wide waves directly to phones through beamforming, charging it remotely on 5 Watts.