Where Next-Gen Connectivity is Essential— and Where Private LTE is Enough
Voice, Text, and the
As 5G continues to dominate tech headlines, it’s easy to assume that every industry, healthcare included, must adopt it across the board. But when it comes to hospitals and healthcare facilities, the picture is more nuanced.
The truth is, while 5G offers impressive capabilities, many hospital connectivity needs are still well served by 4G, particularly when it comes to basic cellular coverage.
Reality of Cellular Needs
At the most fundamental level, what do hospital staff need from their mobile devices? Voice and text. In critical environments like emergency rooms and surgical units, clear communication is everything, and 4G more than delivers.
Just like you connect to Wi-Fi at home for faster browsing while your phone still handles calls and texts effortlessly over 4G, hospitals don't need 5G speeds just to keep the lines of communication open.
The Hype Around 5G and Data Applications
5G shines when it comes to data-heavy use cases: remote surgery, real-time imaging, AI diagnostics, and massive IoT networks. These are all impressive, and valuable, but they’re not always relevant to every hospital’s day-to-day operations. In many cases, these high-bandwidth applications are run over internal Wi-Fi or wired networks, not cellular. And when hospitals do need mobile data for such applications, Private Networks offer a tailored solution.
Private 4G and Private 5G networks give hospitals control over their own connectivity without relying solely on public cellular networks. This means they can deploy highspeed, secure, and reliable data channels where they’re truly needed, like in a radiology lab, while maintaining 4G for broad coverage throughout the facility.
This approach highlights a key point: 5G is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Hospitals can, and should, use the right tool for the job. In many cases, that means sticking with 4G for voice and basic mobile communication, while exploring Private 5G for specific, highdemand applications.
The Bottom Line
With smart planning and private network options, they can meet today’s needs, and prepare for tomorrow’s, without over-investing in tech that’s still catching up to its promise.
“Intenna Systems designs, builds and maintains some of the most complex indoor wireless networks available in the enterprise and service provider segments of the industry. Over two decades of experience provide our staff with unparalleled knowledge in designing, building, optimizing and maintaining customized distributed antenna systems (DAS) and small cell solutions to fit your specific needs. We are distinguished by our commitment to quality and delivering the right solution to meet our customers’ diverse communications needs.”
Founded in 1998, Intenna Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of customized, cost-effective, in-building wireless networks. With over two decades of design and deployment experience, Intenna continues to provide comprehensive cellular and public safety network DAS solutions to an impressive resume of healthcare, corporate, hospitality, public venue and government clients nationwide. We are distinguished by our unparalleled experience, ability to navigate challenging environments, commitment to quality and customer focus. Reach out to Intenna today to learn how we can help you create the wireless environment that your employees, customers and patients now require.
