Many levels of government have struggled with how to respond to the ongoing pandemic, and many believe connectivity could be a way to help, specifically 5G.
If you have heard of 5G networks you might have only thought about it in one singular way, for cellular network use, but 5G is so much more than being able to load a webpage faster or stream your favorite Netflix show quicker. It is also allowing for ultra-reliable communications and computing capabilities. It makes use of edge computing, which essentially brings data storage closer to the location where it’s needed, improving response time and saving on bandwidth.
To learn more about 5G: https://www.extractsystems.com/govnews-blog/2019/6/11/a-5g-explainer
With the pandemic or any other public health crisis, data is needed on an expansive scale. With 5G, machine-to-machine communication is more easily possible, which means devices can communicate with another without any human interaction- think about things like autonomous vehicles and drones. As we look at the pandemic response for an application, some officials have suggested that increasing the amount of data on people’s daily activities and current health could help with containing the (potential) spread of the virus.
With 5G, this data sharing would allow for better tracking of the spread of the virus and would allow organizations to share health data with governments and healthcare providers. When you start talking about sharing people’s data, specifically health data, you run into privacy questions like who will have access, what it’s being used for, etc. Other countries are already investing and utilizing the technology for the sole purpose of tracking the spread of COVID-19. Chris Pearson, president of 5G Americas explained, "In some parts of the world, the combination of 5G, drone, and AI are already being used to detect body temperatures of potential COVID-19 cases in public areas." Here, technology leaders and policymakers will find a balance between public health and how to protect people’s privacy.
5G could shift the healthcare industry completely. With the new era of 5G it would allow extremely fast transfer of large image files, allowing for telemedicine expansion and improving real-time diagnosis and treatment of patients, even in rural areas. Medical IoT devices that are consistently connected could even transfer large volumes of data over 5G networks.
To learn more about public health vs contact tracing: https://www.extractsystems.com/govnews-blog/2020/5/14/contact-tracing-public-health-vs-privacy
While connecting healthcare providers and patients safely and securely is an immediate benefit of 5G service, it also has promise in other areas such as in education. Regardless of what your stance on the usefulness of 5G technology is, it’s likely that the most innovative applications of it have yet to even be considered. The pandemic has increased the importance of digital readiness and put a spotlight on how ready we are for (another) crisis, as well shown us that we need to take a human-focused approach to how we governance our technologies.
Sources:
https://www.ericsson.com/en/blog/2020/6/tech-5g-pandemic-consumers-have-their-say
About the Author: Taylor Genter Taylor is the Marketing Specialist at Extract with experience in data analytics, graphic design, and both digital and social media marketing. She earned her Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing at the University of Wisconsin- Whitewater. Taylor enjoys analyzing people’s behaviors and attitudes to find out what motivates them, and then curating better ways to communicate with them.