Why is Verizon Pushing for Private 5G for Hospitals?

Healthcare facilities are reaching a critical threshold in their wireless infrastructure capabilities as the proliferation of connected medical equipment and artificial intelligence applications continues to strain existing networks.

Traditional Wi-Fi systems are becoming inadequate for contemporary clinical settings, according to Verizon. The telecommunications company is advocating for the healthcare industry to embrace private wireless networks (PWNs) and embedded 5G cellular connectivity for medical apparatus.

Verizon suggests that establishing private wireless connectivity standards could enable healthcare organisations to implement new digital services with greater reliability while alleviating network strain.

Robin Goldsmith, Practice Leader of Healthcare and Life Sciences at Verizon Business, says the sector will require dedicated wireless infrastructure as medical facilities advance their digital capabilities.

"I believe that in the coming years, PWNs will be the standard requirement for every new hospital build. The reality is that the vast majority of hospitals are years away from being able to do so," he says.

"By standardising 5G and private wireless connectivity for medical devices, we can help hospitals and health clinics that may not have the resources to upgrade their entire network infrastructure with the connectivity and solutions they need to improve patient care."

The challenge is intensifying as medical centres deploy internet of medical things (IoMT) devices alongside software platforms processing substantial quantities of clinical information. Blood and glucose monitoring systems represent examples of IoMT devices.

These technologies depend on uninterrupted connectivity for monitoring, diagnostics and operational oversight, yet numerous healthcare establishments continue operating them on enterprise Wi-Fi networks originally designed for standard office usage.

The expansion of connected apparatus and digital healthcare applications is generating unsustainable load on legacy network systems, according to Verizon.

Shared networks create operational challenges

Medical facilities commonly operate extensive shared Wi-Fi networks serving clinical staff and patients simultaneously with medical apparatus. This configuration produces congestion across the frequently utilised 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz spectrum bands.

Standard devices employed for administrative tasks or personal connectivity are competing with clinical systems for bandwidth. Equipment including infusion pumps and telemetry monitors transmit vital patient data and require stable connectivity for safe operation.

The IEC 80001-1 framework, an international standard governing risk management for IT networks connecting medical devices, places responsibility on hospital IT departments for ensuring equipment safety operating on their networks.

Addressing interference and latency across congested Wi-Fi environments consequently becomes both a technical and administrative consideration. A dedicated wireless infrastructure could offer a more consistent alternative for healthcare settings, Robin suggests.

Private wireless infrastructure explained

Private wireless networks utilise cellular technology, frequently based on 5G, to establish dedicated connectivity within a designated facility. They require devices to authenticate using SIM or embedded SIM (eSIM) credentials before connecting, differing from Wi-Fi networks which are often accessible for public use.

Only authorised devices can access the network, isolating the environment from surrounding consumer apparatus.

Verizon identifies multiple technical benefits of private wireless connectivity for medical facilities, including device-level security.

Each connected device contains a SIM or eSIM credential linking directly to the network infrastructure. This hardware-based identity establishes a one-to-one relationship between the device and network. Devices lacking correct encrypted credentials cannot detect or connect to the network.

This architecture aligns with zero trust security models, which require authentication for every device and connection before granting access, according to the operator.

Performance management also transforms under 5G network architecture with network slicing, where operators can partition a single network into multiple virtual segments. Each segment carries traffic with designated performance characteristics.

Within hospital environments, this enables engineers to prioritise critical clinical systems. A slice dedicated to real-time patient monitoring could operate independently from routine data traffic generated by tablets or administrative systems.

Mobility across hospital settings also benefits from cellular design as numerous facilities contain materials interfering with wireless signals, including lead-lined walls used in imaging departments and substantial medical equipment.

Cellular networks manage device movement between coverage zones through automated handovers, enabling connected equipment to move throughout a facility while maintaining connectivity.

Infrastructure supporting digital transformation

The reliability of network infrastructure is becoming increasingly critical as healthcare providers expand digital services. Medical facilities are investigating remote patient monitoring platforms and virtual nursing tools as components of broader digital transformation programmes.

These applications require low latency connectivity to transmit patient information in near real time, and private wireless networks could provide consistent bandwidth and predictable performance for these workloads.

The discussion now focuses on whether integrated cellular connectivity and private 5G will become the standard foundation for medical devices inside future hospital networks to prevent Wi-Fi congestion.