Opportunity or Setback? 5G Tech and Coronavirus Crisis

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5G wireless technology for digital cellular networks brings large bandwidths and low delay in supporting China’s struggle against the Coronavirus. On the other hand, as a newly emerged technology, the advance of 5th generation communications has been slowed down as result of the virus crisis.

A Beijing medical team recently held a remote case discussion with counterparts in Wuhan using 5G technology for the first time to improve the efficiency of diagnosis and treatment.

The technology has brought together medical experts, who were thousands of kilometers apart to confront the coronavirus. 5G technology could make diagnosis and treatment more efficient, convenient and safe, and have far-reaching significance for telemedicine and other medical applications. 5G technology and artificial-intelligence robots have helped reduce the risk of infection with applications such as high-definition live broadcasts and remote consultation and medical analysis. Hospitals in Wuhan could also be connected with each other with 5G technology.

Remote consultation systems have been established in many places with 5G networks and applied in epidemic prevention and disease control, according to reports in Chinese media.

5G technology has been supporting the use of robots in support of medical staff in hospitals. 

5G infrared thermometers have been set up in hospitals, railway and subway stations, and other public places, according to menafn.com. With advanced thermal-imaging technology and environmental-data algorithms, the thermometers can quickly identify and track people with abnormal body temperature. 

However, there is also another aspect. As analysts at Omdia, a global technology market research firm evaluated, as the coronavirus spreads, it is impacting the interconnected sectors of the electronics industry. Especially hard hit will be products related to 5G, because it is in the throes of starting up.

“With the epidemic arriving at dawn of 5G’s mainstream deployment phase, the coronavirus has the potential to disrupt the progress of the next-generation wireless standard, as the crisis slows or threatens to slow the production of key smartphone components, including displays and semiconductors,” marketwatch.com cites the Omdia analysts.