- Use case for remote patient examination via COSMOTE 5G during transportation by the National Emergency Assistance Centre (EKAB)
- Presentation of 5G potential to the medical academic community at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
COSMOTE presented
the first 5G ambulance in Greece, in collaboration with EKAB (National Emergency Assistance Centre) and Ericsson, in a use case that showcased in practice how fifth-generation networks will contribute to the rapid evolution of medicine and the enhancement of Health services. The pilot implementation included remote patient examination via COSMOTE 5G by a doctor in Thessaloniki, during transportation by an EKAB ambulance located on the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) campus. The NKUA has an important contribution to the development of 5G infrastructure and applications and a long-time collaboration with COSMOTE on research projects.
As if the doctor were in the ambulance
During the pilot implementation, a simulation was conducted of transporting a patient to hospital by an EKAB ambulance. The ambulance and the hospital were equipped with 5G equipment, which utilized the special 5GSA infrastructure, created by COSMOTE and the DT Group in collaboration with Ericsson and allows impressively low network latency. The EKAB emergency medical technician (EMT) had an ultrasound device, a tactile glove with sensors, a monitor and headphones for high-definition video and audio on board the ambulance. Wearing the glove and holding the ultrasound wand, the EMT began examining the patient during transport. The hospital doctor in Thessaloniki had at his disposal a monitor, headphones, and a special joystick controller that sent a signal to the EMT’s glove sensors. Using the controller, the doctor could direct the EMT’s hand as if he were examining the patient himself in the ambulance. Communication between the controller and the glove, the transfer of video and audio, and the ultrasound imaging took place in real time via COSMOTE 5G, in complete synchronisation, with absolutely no lag.
Innovative applications of the future
The pilot 5G use case showed, in practice, how a patient can be diagnosed very quickly, even before arriving at the hospital, saving valuable treatment time. At the same time, it showed how the innovative applications of the future, which require virtually zero latency, such as autonomous driving, 5G campus networks, automated industrial production, etc., will operate, utilising what 5G will offer in the coming years.
Presentation to the academic community
The live broadcast of the pilot 5G implementation was attended at the NKUA’s Informatics and Telecommunications Department amphitheatre by members of the Faculty, undergraduate and postgraduate students, in the presence of Rector M. A. Dimopoulos, Provost of Health Sciences Department, E. Pikoulis, Provost of School of Science Department, I. Emmanouil and Chairman of Informatics and Telecommunications Department, G. Kouroupetroglou. Having a long-time strategic collaboration with COSMOTE on research projects and 5G infrastructure, the NKUA contributes to the interconnection of research and innovation, through a series of actions, such as digital innovation hubs. The NKUOA’s research groups have been involved in the 5G research since 2011.
Having attended the 5G pilot implementation, together with other members of the academic community, the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Meletios-Athanasios Dimopoulos stated: “
With more than 184 years of history, the University of Athens has a powerful footprint in state of the art research matters, as well as state of the art technology companies, like COSMOTE. The UOA’s research groups have been involved in the 5G research since 2011, also taking part in the first European research project on 5G, METIS, with Ericsson as coordinator that served as a catalyst for the 5G standards. Today’s demonstration contributes to the enrichment of innovative applications that can support the new generations of mobile communications and become very important to society. The use case for the health sector expands the telemedicine’s current potential aiming at more valid diagnosis and definition of patients’ treatment, not only in remote regions, but in emergencies as well, when the response and treatment can be critical.“
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The new digital technologies in the area of emergency treatment are now a necessity, not only for the improvement of health executives’ efficiency, but for the provision of free public health services for all patients. The pilot 5G use case establishes the evolution of EKAB into a high-standard emergency service, equivalent to the ones abroad. With the use of 5G technology, the Rescuers, who are the main protagonists in emergencies, are granted the possibility of optimum operational readiness, so that they can live up to their admittedly difficult daily task’’, said the President of EKAB, Nikolaos Papaefstathiou.
The Chief Technology and Operations Officer of the ΟΤΕ Group, Stefanos Theocharopoulos, made the following statement: “
COSMOTE was the first to bring the future of telecommunications – 5G – to Greece. We will not stop here. We are preparing intensively for the next day in fifth-generation networks. In the coming years, innovative telemedicine applications that utilise 5G’s near zero latency will significantly improve the Health services we enjoy and, by extension, our quality of life. Through research and development, we remain at the cutting edge of technology, creating a better world for all.”
The Chairman and Managing Director of Ericsson Hellas, Mr. George Pappas, noted: “
We are excited by the huge potential of 5G technology and how it can help transform healthcare in the near future. We believe it has the potential to create more efficient use of healthcare resources, particularly with regards to remote diagnostics.”
The largest 5G network in Greece
COSMOTE 5G is the largest 5G network in Greece, with nationwide population coverage[1] that already exceeds 50%. In Athens and Thessaloniki, coverage has already reached 97% and 90%, respectively, while in certain areas, COSMOTE 5G’s maximum speeds exceed 1Gbps. The network is continuing to grow dynamically, with a new target of 60% nationwide population coverage by the end of the year.
COSMOTE GIGASPEED NETWORK
The COSMOTE GIGASPEED NETWORK is shaping the infrastructure leading Greece into the future. With cutting-edge technology, such as 5G and ‘Fiber to the Home’, the COSMOTE GIGASPEED NETWORK meets the needs of the new digital era, unleashing unlimited potential and contributing to the creation of a better world for all. Committed to leading the digital transformation, the OTE Group is the largest investor in new technologies and infrastructure in Greece. With some €5 billion in investments over the past decade and a €2 billion investment plan for the current four-year period, it is creating the infrastructure for the Gigabit Society.
[1] Outdoor Population Coverage