A 5 G health use case calling for ecosystem strategies: Resolving technology and business dependencies necessary to kick off the market

摘要

5G-HEART, as one of the 5G PPP Phase 3 (ICT-19) projects, deploys innovative digital use cases involving healthcare, transport, and aquaculture. In general, connectivity is imperative to realize economic and welfare benefits and 5G-HEART studies whether 5G can provide capabilities which current connectivity solutions cannot. This article focuses on one healthcare use case; Remote Patient Monitoring for transitional care, a compelling use case that could be enabled by 5G connectivity. We describe and analyze this use case according to technology and business status and gaps, revealing dependencies and challenges between technologies and business partners in their value creation and capturing. This approach corresponds to perceiving the 5G market as an ecosystem. Based on our analyses we indicate scenarios for resolution in line with ecosystem strategies; more importantly we highlight challenges and inhibitors that need to be addressed by the ecosystem. Thus, our contribution is not intended to offer a clear-cut solution but rather to create awareness of the problems and to trigger a discussion to help ensure maximum impact of 5G, particularly in relation to connected care.