(Xinhua)08:57, June 12, 2019
WUHAN, June 11 (Xinhua) — Doctors in central Chinas Hubei Province have successfully directed surgeons 200 km away to perform a gall bladder surgery via a 5G network, the network operator said Tuesday.
The laparoscopic cholecystectomy was conducted Thursday and lasted about an hour, according to China Mobiles Hubei branch.
The surgery, where a 5G Internet connection enabled the entire process, was conducted in the Shennongjia forestry district branch of Taihe Hospital and was transmitted via live feed to an expert team in Taihe Hospital in the city of Shiyan.
Thanks to the 5G technology, there was almost no network delay, and the patients vital signs remained stable after the surgery, according to the surgical team.
5G technology guarantees the clarity and continuity of transmitted videos and photos. With the network, more doctors can cooperate to conduct surgeries regardless of their distance, said Gui Kunpeng, a senior official with China Mobiles Hubei branch.
China is adopting the 5G network to meet the public demand in sectors such as transportation, entertainment and health care. So far, Hubei has built more than 300 5G base stations and achieved full 5G signal coverage in its prefecture-level cities.