Traditional communication technologies such as 2G, 3G, and 4G are unable to handle the complicated and evolving demands of the modern digital healthcare system. The implementations of 5G in healthcare provide better and more effective communications and fast and efficient propagation of massive quantities of data. 5G provides up to 10-15Gbps high transmission speed over 4G 12Gbps and 5G requires low computing power to enormously improve and speed up diagnosis and treatments. It is also noticed in 5G end to end data transfer rate is less than 1 millisecond, which is nearly comparable to zero. Due to 5G high throughput and capacity to link devices per unit, an ecosystem emerged and provides actual interaction between doctors and sufferers. This chapter discusses the role of 5G technologies and the objective of choosing 5G for the healthcare system. How 5G differs from existing technologies, application, implementation challenges, and further enhancement possibilities are also discussed here.
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Conventional medical systems are undergoing extensive and permanent changes. These transformations are possible just because of upcoming emerging Information and communication technologies (ICT) because it includes new digitization process and virtualization approaches. These advanced data communication capabilities are offered by 5G technology to improve health care services for a patient, and doctors regardless of geographical location. It also improves convenience and comfort of the patients, increases efficiency of the health care system and thereby reduces health risks.
Prior to discussions on 5G, it is necessary to go through the earlier developments of telecommunication technologies. On looking back, it is evident that significant advances in the area of mobile technologies keep happening every decade over generations. The very first communication technology 1G got started in the year 1981, and it was primarily designed for the telephone system to transfer information in form of voice (Analogue data). 1G technology has low data transmission capabilities and has coverage areas that are limited and regional. The second-generation (2G) was introduced in the year 1991 and this technology allowed transmission of Picture messages, text messages, and Multimedia Messages (MMS) various mobile phone networks. The text message was digitally encrypted and delivered over 2G at a higher data rate to the intended receiver. The third-generation (3G), was designed with consideration for smartphones to transmit digital data with a high transfer rate. The two 3G technologies, Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and Fixed Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WIMAX) are introduced in 1998. Using this technology, multimedia data can transmit at a high speed with global roaming and global coverage. In 2010, the then emerging technology of 4G (also known as wireless mobile telecommunication technology) was much faster than 3G technology and got even more fascinating.
Figure 1.
Evolution of Mobile Communication (Santos J 2016)
The 4G technology provides excellent data transfer rate Information in the form of text, audio, and video with minimal buffering can be transmitted to many of the connected devices all over the world, and all the online services we rely on and enjoy today is built up on this (verizon.com 2022). People are starting to experience 5G and its transformational potential. The advantages of 5G can also be discovered in the field of home automation using IoT. 5G Home internet gives users ultra-fast wireless home internet (verizon.com 2022) with download speeds of up to 1-2Gbps.
The current demand for 5G technology is to provide a high transmission rate, and massive connectivity, the network spectrum should be wide and have higher network flexibility. The main goal of 5G is to meet the rapidly growing future demand for mobile internet services and bring new experiences to users. Today's hospitals are always looking for methods to increase their efficiency and make the most of the resources they have. This is frequently accomplished in part by utilizing a range of digital technologies. Patient monitors, Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, and plenty of other medical devices gather a lot of data and transmit patient data on a massive scale. However, these data sources are not always connected to the network hence causing several inefficiencies and delays in services. As hospitals digitize more and more procedures day by day, current networks will be put under more strain to keep up with the massive amounts of data being shared. 5G networks provide a solution to this problem by providing high data transmission speed, and ultra-low latency data connections.
In short, the digital healthcare system enables people irrespective of their background, i.e. whether or not he is a health care professional, a patient or family members of the patient, to access data that is relevant to them and take appropriate measures with the information received. The main goal of 5G is to enable a digital healthcare system in the medical field and is to minimize medical errors. It also improves system efficiency, and lower costs at an appropriate time (De Mattos, 2016).