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How can 5G potentially save patient lives?

Answer: By enabling remote surgeries.

The term “5G-assisted surgeries” may soon become commonplace in hospitals. Doctors in China have recently used the newer, faster Internet connection to assist on operations happening hundreds of miles away.

One such procedure took place earlier this month when a cardiologist at Guangdong General Hospital assisted in a heart surgery taking place at Gaozhou People’s Hospital 400 kilometers (248.5 miles) away. Thanks to a 5G Internet connection that was 10 times faster than a 4G mobile connection, Huiming Guo used a 4K ultra-high definition live video to watch and issue instructions throughout the four-hour operation.

“Advanced Internet technology can save our doctors a lot of time because they don’t have to travel as much. They can use that time to save more lives,” said Zhiwei Zhang from Guangdong General Hospital at a press conference.

Kate is a senior copy editor in Northern California. She holds a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in professional writing from the University of California, Davis.