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Modern health care is evolving toward a model focused on virtual and remote patient care. As people integrate connected technology into their lives, they expect connected health care services.
5G networks and solutions are driving this transformation. Telehealth, robotic surgery and 5G-enabled wearable medical devices have all seen significant adoption.
Change Lives with Real-Time Health Data
Table of Contents
- Advanced Features of 5G in Connected Health
- RedCap: A New Class of 5G
- Advanced 5G Network Slicing in Health Care
- 4 Stages in 5G Slicing for Connected Health in the Network
- Health Care Cyberthreats Are Climbing
- 6G Health Institute and Telefonica Create the First Mobile 5G Hospital Network
- 4 Security Advantages of 5G
- Service Level Agreements (SLA) across 5G Connected Health Care
- Advanced 5G in Connected Health Care: Telit Cinterion Leads the Way
- Key Takeaways
These innovations enable real-time data transfer and remote patient monitoring. Markets and Markets projects that global 5G revenue in health care will reach $3.67 billion by 2026.
Internet of Things (IoT) health care solutions are improving access to medical resources. They provide faster, more reliable communication between providers and patients. Connected medical devices that use 5G and mobile broadband enable seamless communication anytime and anywhere.
5G is evolving in response to emerging challenges and technologies. As a result, significant gains have been made in enabling advanced 5G-powered services.
For example, 5G reduced capability (RedCap) technology future-proofs the evolving Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). It bridges the gap between 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and 5G.
5G network slicing is enabling a real-time connected health care system. Through dedicated 5G network slices, complex patient services can be managed securely. In addition, the network can be adjusted to meet patients’ and providers’ needs.
This guide will share the latest advanced 5G features and their importance to connected health care. Read on to stay informed about 5G’s advancements and the future of connected health care to make better, more timely decisions.
Advanced Features of 5G in Connected Health
A Medical Device Innovation Consortium (MDIC) study showed that wireless technologies (specifically 5G) accelerate remote health care delivery. As treatment moves closer to home, health care costs are reduced, and patients are more satisfied.
5G does much more than increase network speeds and improve battery life. Its advancements deliver emerging technologies to enhance the health care system and care delivery.
Applications include augmented and virtual reality (AR and VR) for remote surgery. They also cover real-time remote treatment and patient monitoring. In emergencies, 5G-enabled ambulances help paramedics make better decisions. They can securely access medical records in real time to save lives.
RedCap: A New Class of 5G
In the past, companies had to choose between 5G high-speed mobile broadband devices or extremely low-bandwidth devices. RedCap is also known as a light version of the 5G standard or New Radio (NR)-Light. It fills the gap with a mid-range solution.
RedCap is ideal for applications that don’t need extreme speed or minimal delay. Still, they require sufficient data transfer rates to maintain continuous information flow and end-to-end security.
5G RedCap provides a smoother transition and more flexibility than 4G LTE. It also offers 5G’s full security. 4G is expected to begin phasing out by 2030. Most cellular IoT devices will migrate to 5G networks to accommodate new standards.
Telit Cinterion’s RedCap IoT Modules
Telit Cinterion released first-generation RedCap IoT modules. These modules leverage the Snapdragon® X35 5G Modem-RF System. RedCap uses fewer 5G NR capabilities to balance features, power consumption and cost.
With worldwide coverage, customers can experience a smooth transition from mid-speed LTE to affordable 5G technology. These modules have a global footprint and an optional eSIM for seamless 5G connectivity in different countries or regions. 5G’s flexible infrastructure enables clients to adopt the latest innovations as needed.
IoT applications are undergoing continuous advancements. Telit Cinterion provides flexible, future-proof RedCap modules that focus on three main areas:
- LTE Category (Cat) 4 Fallback
If a 5G network is unavailable, these modules automatically switch to 4G LTE Cat 4 networks to ensure continuous connectivity. - Form Factor Families
We create modules with a “design once, use anywhere” philosophy. Our form factor families are pin-to-pin compatible, allowing customers to upgrade to 5G without redesigning their devices. - Enhanced Uplink Performance
Applications like video uploads send large amounts of data from devices to the network. Increased capacity and throughput with lower latency improve performance for these applications.
One of the biggest use cases for 5G RedCap is wearable medical devices. A patient wears a device that reads and monitors their vital signs, such as a glucose monitor. The data is transmitted in real time to their health care provider. These devices require affordable, mid-speed throughput with guaranteed longevity.
Advanced 5G Network Slicing in Health Care
As connected health care becomes more complex, managing the network is critical for success. That’s where 5G network slicing comes into play. It is a key advantage of 5G technology, especially for health care services. 5G network slicing ensures guaranteed quality of service for each mobile user.
5G network slicing is created on a public 5G network divided into multiple virtual networks known as slices. Each end-to-end virtual slice can be customized. It can be dedicated to providing specific resources for the device, application or operator’s needs.
Patients and caregivers in critical care situations need flexibility and speed. Resources are distributed on demand to select network segments based on priorities and congestion.
5G network slicing takes advantage of private 5G’s structure and security. However, it isn’t bound to a specific geography. Organizations benefit from this ability to adapt, saving time and money while achieving better outcomes, especially in medical emergencies.
With 5G network slicing, mobile network operators can offer once-unattainable capabilities. A real-world example is using 5G-connected drones to deliver medical supplies in remote areas or during natural disasters. These scenarios showcase situations in which human intervention alone would be impossible.
By 2028, the 5G network slicing market will reach $5.3 billion globally. Collaborating among system integrators, vendors and carriers is imperative to ensure success with 5G network slicing.
4 Stages in 5G Slicing for Connected Health in the Network
The 5G health slice is divided into four slices to accommodate the entire health care ecosystem. Resources in each slice are prioritized and distributed based on need.
- Mobile devices
- 5G Radio Access Network (RAN)
- 5G core
- Health care backend
1. Mobile Devices
Mobile devices are applications that require resources.
Connected Ambulance
In emergencies, first responders can use tablets and other mobile devices. They can use these devices to transfer and receive medical files while in transit.
Chronic Home Care
Mobile devices can deliver dependable, secure long-term care services to patients with chronic conditions in their homes.
Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCTs)
For DCTs, IoT-enabled devices can ensure that pharmaceuticals can authenticate real-time vital sign data from trial participants.
Outpatient Monitoring
Mobile health care devices enable remote monitoring and management of patient care.
Remote Expert Collaboration
5G-enabled AR and VR headsets enable specialists to guide remote procedures or control operation robots. Connected operating rooms can also accelerate physician training.
Telemedicine
Telemedicine enables patients to communicate with providers via video calls, text messages and email in any physical location.
Here is an example of 5G network slicing for connected ambulances in an emergency. Let’s say a mass accident occurred, requiring multiple ambulances and drones for blood delivery.
The operator can quickly set up a network slice for emergency services. This slice gives them priority access to network resources. The prioritized slice securely supports:
- Ambulance and doctor communications
- Drones for blood delivery
- Medical image transmission
Non-essential traffic (e.g., streaming services) is deprioritized or limited to basic text communications. The network can quickly reallocate resources from regular users to emergency services. This ensures that important communications have security and enough bandwidth. It also provides low latency for quick and flexible responses, which can save lives.
2. 5G Radio Access Network (RAN)
The 5G RAN is the complete infrastructure for 5G radio access. It includes 5G New Radio (NR) — the physical connections, supporting software and components like antennas. In connected health, RAN enables next-generation applications like video surveillance and smart wearable products.
Dedicated Spectrum
Dedicated spectrum gives a specific user or application exclusive access to certain frequency bands rather than sharing them with the public. This is critical for applications in connected health care where uninterrupted and reliable connectivity is essential.
Quality of Service (QoS) Throughput
Prioritize traffic and manage the bandwidth to improve the control and throughput of critical health care data.
QoS Latency
Classifying
