Docomo trials 5G for remote healthcare

Japan’s NTT Docomo has completed a trial involving the use of 5G technology to conduct remote medical examinations.

The trial in the sparsely populated Wakayama Prefecture used base station equipment provided by NEC.

It was conducted in collaboration with the Wakayama Prefectural Government and Wakayama Medical University and hosted by Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC).

The Wakayama Prefecture has previously established  a remote medical support internet based video conferencing system to connect 13 prefectural medical institutions and Wakayama Medical University, allowing doctors to receive advice from specialists, even in towns in mountainous areas.

But the system has frequently met with problems including unclear images and transmission delays due to the underlying internet infrastructure.

The trial marks an attempt to overcome these issues. It involves the deployment of a fiber cable to establish a remote medical examination service by using 5G to connect Wakayama Medical University and the Hidakagawa Kokuho Kawakami Clinic about 30 km from the university.

An NEC base station supporting the 28-GHz band and meeting 5G specifications was deployed to enable real-time sharing of images taken by a 4K close-up camera, as well as HD echocardiographic video and MRI images.

The trial demonstrated that using HD large-screen monitors and high-capacity data transmission it is possible for remote doctors to view the condition of a patient in minute detail, and to communicate more intimately with patients compared to the use of standard videoconferencing equipment.

“Ultra-high-speed 5G communications are often associated with the entertainment industry. However, these trials showed us that 5G can play a role in solving social issues, such as reducing regional disparities in the delivery of health care,” NTT Docomo senior research engineer for 5G radio access network research Jun Mashino said.

“We plan to create new business models and value by continuing to take advantage of 5G technologies in collaboration with ICT vendors, and a wide variety of companies and organizations in the near future.”