With 5G still being rolled out it may feel a little premature to be thinking about 6G. But with an estimated launch date of 2030, the reality is it’s nearer than we think. We’ve taken a look at how the 6G network will differ and what it could mean for care home technology.
5G-Advanced
Before 6G arrives, there’ll be a sort of interim service called 5G-Advanced. It’s already available in some parts of the world and will enhance smart connectivity and connectivity that relies on ‘uplink communication’ i.e. people moving at high speed such as on trains and on planes. It will also have a heavier focus on AI and energy efficiency so expect to see 5G Advanced accelerating technologies and experiences such as wearables, connected vehicles, drones, highly immersive experiences and more. Wearables and and connected devices are particular applications that the care home sector could see improvements in but the major advances should come with the full roll out of 6G.
6G Network
6G is epected to launch globally around 2030. And whilst 6G will indeed be faster, the real story will be all about ‘integration’. Integrated Sensing and Communication (ISAC) is a term you should start familiarising yourself with as it’s essentially what 6G is all about. It’s the shift from a mobile network simply moving data, to a network that also senses and observes the physical environment whilst simultaneously making intelligent and real time decisions about both.
Here’s a quick overview of what that might look like:
- Faster – potentially 100 times faster than 5G
- Equal upload and download speeds – 6G will make sending files to the cloud just as fast as downloading them.
- Radar – existing infrastructure, such as masts, will be able to function like a giant radar system identifying where people and objects are, how fast they’re moving and more.
- AI – 6G networks will be able to process data locally (instead of waiting to connect to data centres) making devices faster and enabling real time AI decision making.
What does that mean in reality for care homes?
Based on the ISAC element of 6G (not only transmitting data but also detecting and tracking objects) eHealth capablities will increase as will AI technlogies and data driven systems:
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Contact-free sensors: 6G will be able to use radar to enable the continuous monitoring and collection of medical data such as breathing and heart rate – without the need for wires or sensors on the resident’s body.
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Fall detection: Using the same ISAC technology, the network will be able to notice if a resident falls and make a decision in real time e.g. sending an instant alert to staff.
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Specialist care: 6G systems could integrate with AI to spot early signs of distress, even when they’re asleep.
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More telehealth services: Care home staff will likely use more virtual reality to show a doctor a resident’s symptoms in real-time, reducing unnecessary in person appointments.
