ZTE Corporation has paired with China Telecom to deploy a 5G IoT integration network at The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University in Suzhou, China.

According to ZTE, its 5G IoT integration network enables access to Internet of Things (IoT) applications. The company also states that it will significantly boost the sustainable development of mobile healthcare services and drive the digital transformation of the medical industry.

The network supports both public network services and private network applications.

At the hospital, the network has been able to connect the clinical workflows, assets, and data, creating a comprehensive management system.

With the use of 5G technology, the hospital has been able to facilitate core application scenarios, including smart emergency services, smart inpatient treatment, and smart elderly care.

The 5G connectivity has been able to provide continuous real-time vital signs monitoring when transferring patients, while 5G smartphones have replaced medical PDAs (Portable Device Assistants) for staff at the hospital.

ZTE claims that compared to traditional IoT networks, it can connect various types of medical devices while reducing the number of required network types.

The company said its network is designed to be more cost-efficient, noting that the integrated 5G IoT network can support more than 3,000 terminals through the hospital's network structure.

"This solution enables efficient management of IoT applications within the hospital," said ZTE, which claims that it's able to achieve approximately 80 percent in cost savings and reduce construction time by 90 percent.

"These innovations in mobile healthcare services significantly improve the work efficiency of medical staff and enhance patient outcomes. Moreover, the 5G IoT integrated network solution is scalable to new scenarios, facilitating the integration of diagnostic and elderly care services and empowering smart healthcare solutions for seniors, thus shaping the future of healthy aging."