Europe’s first private 5G network in hospital launched in Finland’s OUH

Boldyn Networks (Boldyn), the University of Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, and WICOAR Technologies, have received the official funding decision by the European Commission in the CEF Digital1 program for their “Hola 5G Oulu” project. Working together as a consortium the four parties will collaborate to bring a private 5G network to Oulu University Hospital and enable wireless wearable solutions for more efficient patient care. The network is considered the first ever private 5G network to be deployed at an operating hospital in Europe.

The “Hola 5G Oulu” project is about creating a robust and secure network for highly demanding healthcare environments and related use cases. Starting with one entire floor of the patient ward and selected operating theatres that serve as a platform for research and development, furthering the role of Oulu as a centre of technological and medical innovation.

The consortium will research and develop advanced data sharing and visualisation techniques aiming to define efficient patient care.

Initiating the project together with the originator of the idea – Jani Katisko, Associate professor and Medical Physicist at Oulu University Hospital, Petri Parviainen, Senior Key Account Manager at Boldyn Networks said: “We’re bringing our expertise in large, connected venues as well as bespoke private networks to deliver a solution that will undoubtedly be replicated in other hospitals in Finland and globally. Our consortium partnerships exemplify a concerted effort towards creating a healthcare system that is future-proof to comply with the fast-paced societal changes and technological evolution.”

“A private 5G network, with its high capacity and high-security nature, will provide the hospital with a reliable network, that can enable innovative healthcare-supporting solutions and solidly maintain its performance, even in the disturbance of a blackout” Petri added.

As part of the use cases, the private 5G network will be the foundation for WICOAR Technologies to research and develop wireless wearable solutions that can be an integral part of the hospital areas and improve the healthcare experience for both patients and doctors. Wearable solutions retrieve live patient data, including medical imaging and test results, so doctors can make diagnoses easily and quickly during patient visits, reducing the time needed in front of the computer and increasing the time spent with the patient. Wearables also reduce the workload of nurses as they do not need to retrieve data before the patient’s appointment. Additionally, wearables can recreate visuals of patients’ vital monitoring, past diagnoses, and medical results for surgeons.

The 5G private network will also allow anaesthetists to see and monitor all details of a surgery remotely and guide other doctors in the operating theatre even if not present in the room. This will be more secure for patients who can be at ease during procedures.

Oulu University Hospital is the main hospital of Pohde, the wellbeing services county of North Ostrobothnia in Finland. Kirsti Ylitalo-Katajisto, Pohde’s social and healthcare organising director, recognises the transformative potential of new technology in healthcare:

“Collaboration between businesses and the public sector is crucial to cultivate an environment conducive to the adoption of innovative technologies in healthcare, ultimately benefiting our patients. Pohde aspires to be a pioneer in this domain, and we are delighted to receive EU support for this groundbreaking technology implementation within our hospital, ensuring it benefits all stakeholders.” — Kirsti Ylitalo-Katajisto, Pohde’s social and healthcare organising director.

Rauno Jokelainen, a member of the WICOAR board said: “WICOAR Technologies is a pioneering Finnish startup driven by the desire to easily integrate patient data into daily patient care safely and quickly. The new technology reduces the time spent on patient work while increasing the face-to-face contact with the patient by reducing the work involving collecting patient data on a terminal in the office.”

“The University of Oulu will lead a thorough testing program for “Hola 5G Oulu”, prioritising patient safety with rigorous network testing. Additionally, streamlined workflows are achieved through usability testing of wireless wearables, ensuring smooth integration into the hospital environment. This meticulous approach minimises disruption, ultimately paving the way for a transformed approach to patient care” — Mikael von und zu Fraunberg, Professor of Neurosurgery, Chief Physician of Neurosurgery, University of Oulu & Oulu University Hospital.

This initiative, funded by the EU and led by Boldyn Networks, Oulu University Hospital, and WICOAR Technologies, marks a significant leap forward in European healthcare. By establishing the first private 5G network within a functioning hospital, the project lays the groundwork for secure, efficient patient care through innovative wearable technologies. This will ultimately lead to improved patient care and a more efficient workflow for healthcare professionals.

1The Connecting Europe Facility – Digital (CEF Digital) aims to leverage public and private investments in digital connectivity infrastructures of common European interest. Together with other funding instruments, including the Recovery and Resilience Facility and the InvestEU, CEF Digital will help support an unprecedented amount of investments devoted to safe, secure, and sustainable high-performance infrastructure. In particular, Gigabit and 5G networks across the EU.
MB Bureau