Perception and social acceptance of 5G technology for sustainability development
Boglárka Eisinger Balassa, Nikolett Gyurián Nagy, Norbert Gyurián
Abstract
This research was carried out to enable a better understanding of the attitudes of Hungarian consumers and future users towards 5G technology. The development of 5G technology supports social, economic and environmental sustainability together. Among other things, innovative communities, economic progress and a reduction of the carbon footprint can be positive outcomes of 5G. For example 5G benefits the environment in two ways: it helps telecom operators reduce their energy usage, thus lowering their environmental impact, and it provides tools that telecom companies can use to assist others in reducing their environmental footprint. The Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression method was used to establish the correlations between the five factor groups. Research indicates a prevalent skepticism among Hungarian consumers toward 5G technology, characterized by apprehensions regarding health risks and a lack of perceived competitive advantages or inherent business benefits to adopting 5G. This hesitancy must be countered by transparently addressing health concerns, debunking myths, and building a foundational trust in 5G technologies through comprehensive educational and awareness-raising initiatives, aligning technological advancements with consumer confidence and acceptance. 5G must be demystified so that consumers will come to trust the technology and embrace its adoption. Due to the similar technological conditions and historical backgrounds of the Central European Countries (CEC), the results of this research will prove useful to policymakers throughout the region.