Abstract

The advent of 5G communication standards has ushered in a new era of connectivity, significantly impacting various industries and applications, particularly in the realm of healthcare. This book chapter explores the critical role of 5G in enabling ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) for healthcare applications, with a focus on enhancing patient care, remote monitoring, and real-time diagnostics. With its unparalleled data rates, low latency, and massive connectivity capabilities, 5G addresses the pressing demands of modern healthcare systems that require reliable and timely data transmission.the chapter delves into the evolution of communication standards from 4G to 5G, highlighting the key technical features and architectural advancements that make 5G a transformative technology for healthcare. The integration of advanced technologies such as Software-Defined Networking (SDN), Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), and network slicing was also discussed in detail, illustrating howoptimize the efficiency and flexibility of 5G networks in supporting diverse healthcare applications. The chapter additionally examines the challenges and solutions associated with achieving URLLC performance, as well as the impact of enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) on streaming services, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) in healthcare settings. By providing a comprehensive overview of the 5G ecosystem, its capabilities, and its potential applications, this chapter offers valuable insights into how 5Grevolutionize healthcare delivery, paving the way for smarter, more efficient, and patient-centric healthcare systems.

Introduction

The advent of 5G communication technology represents a groundbreaking shift in the landscape of global communication systems [1]. With its promise of ultra-high-speed connectivity, ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), and massive connectivity capabilities, 5G stands poised to address the limitations inherent in previous network generations [2]. This new standard was especially vital for healthcare, where precision, immediacy, and reliability are critical [3]. Healthcare applications, ranging from remote patient monitoring to real-time diagnostic systems, require networks that can support high volumes of data while ensuring minimal delays [4]. The capacity of 5G to deliver such performance was expected to revolutionize healthcare systems by enabling innovations like telemedicine, robotic surgeries, and intelligent health monitoring [5].

One of the key advantages of 5G was its ability to support ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC), which was crucial for real-time healthcare services [6]. In telemedicine, for example, the ability to transmit patient data with minimal delay was critical for the timely diagnosis and treatment of patients, particularly in emergency situations [7]. URLLC ensures that data transmission between healthcare providers and patients was almost instantaneous, facilitating remote consultations, virtual checkups, and quick response times. Additionally, the high reliability of 5G networks ensures that critical healthcare applications remain operational even during periods of high network congestion, a feature that was indispensable in life-or-death scenarios [8].