13 February 2025 | Oulu, Finland

The Hola 5G Oulu project is thrilled to announce the successful launch of its private 5G standalone (SA) network at Oulu University Hospital. Marking Europe’s first private 5G network in a functioning hospital, this achievement has the potential to revolutionise healthcare with advanced technology.

Through meticulous design, rigorous lab testing and comprehensive deployment, experts at Boldyn Networks have demonstrated the robust and reliable performance of their solutions in the demanding environment of a hospital. Connecting all devices and personnel, the network has enabled uninterrupted data flow and connectivity even in the critical event of a power outage.

The Hola 5G Oulu project, an initiative launched by Oulu University Hospital to bring advanced Private 5G technology to the healthcare sector, ensures a high-performance network infrastructure by utilising Nokia Modular Private Wireless (MPW), deployed by Boldyn. The design of Boldyn’s radio access network, based on extensive experience and expertise, ensures connectivity without issues in the event of any failure. These setups provide seamless connectivity, enhanced reliability, and optimal performance for state-of-the-art wearable devices, maximising efficiency among hospital workers and improving patient care.

Private 5G has empowered Oulu University Hospital to introduce a new generation of healthcare devices:

• Wireless wearable technologies for patient wards: With WICOAR HealthVision (smart glasses with augmented technologies), doctors and nurses will have instant visual access to critical patient data, enabling faster diagnoses and informed treatment decisions.
• Mobile-app software for quick and reliable communication: WICOAR HealthAudio provides doctors and nurses with a reliable platform for swift communication.
• Wireless wearable technologies for surgical theatres: During surgeries, surgeons can wear WICOAR HealthVision glasses to maintain constant visual access to patients' vital signs.

Jani Katisko, Associate Professor and Medical Physicist at Oulu University Hospital said: “The network going live is a major milestone for us, and it's incredibly rewarding to see our vision taking shape. It opens a world of possibilities for improving patient care. This advancement means that doctors and nurses can have instant access to critical information on their devices, maintaining connectivity as they move throughout the hospital. This not only maximises efficiency but also significantly improves the quality of care provided to patients. Wireless smart glasses can revolutionise data visualisation, providing us with real-time insights into patient needs. This is just the beginning. We are excited to see the research and development of even more innovative use cases in the future, such as robotic medicine delivery, AI-assisted medical imaging analysis, and virtual remote training and assistance."

“Now, with the private 5G SA network, we can utilise many of its strengths as a seamless handover, low latency, high capacity, cybersecurity and availability in any circumstances. It allows the hospitals to constantly keep track of the healthcare processes while enabling seamless communication and collaboration of the hospital’s staff. This aligns with the main objective of the project, to elevate the quality of patient care. We are extremely proud to work with Oulu University Hospital to launch the Private 5G SA network. This success reflects the hard work and collaboration of everyone involved and our commitment to transforming healthcare with cutting-edge technology.” said Petri Parviainen, Head of Sales Public Sector, Private Networks Europe at Boldyn Networks.

Rauno Jokelainen, Co-founder and COO of WICOAR Technologies, said: "Our technology is designed to significantly improve communication between healthcare staff and provide them with readily accessible, visualised patient data for enhanced assessment and care. Previously, physicians were spending up to 50% of their time performing computer-related tasks. With instant data access, we are reducing the time spent searching for information. We are empowering healthcare professionals to dedicate more time to their patients, creating a more personalised and effective healthcare experience. We're thrilled to witness our vision of healthcare wireless wearable technologies becoming a reality at Oulu, with the launch of this advanced 5G network."

"We have a long-standing collaboration with Boldyn in deploying private networks across Europe. The successful deployment of this advanced 5G private network in the Hola 5G Oulu project marks the beginning of a digital journey that extends far beyond connectivity. It clearly demonstrates the transformative power of technology in revolutionising healthcare. Nokia is proud to provide private wireless network technology for this important initiative, paving the way for a brighter future in patient care." says Rolf Albrecht, Head of Enterprise Campus Edge Europe Sales at Nokia.

While Boldyn Networks ensures the Private 5G SA network operates harmoniously with existing hospital equipment, Oulu University will focus on testing the usability of the wireless wearables in clinical settings to confirm they enhance workflows and improve patient care:

• Verify network compatibility: Confirm that the Private 5G SA network operates safely and effectively alongside existing hospital equipment, ensuring no interference or disruption.
• Validate wearable usability: Evaluate the usability of wireless wearables in a real-world hospital setting, focusing on how they integrate into clinical workflows and improve patient care.

Acerca del Hospital Universitario de Oulu

El Hospital Universitario de Oulu (OYS) es un proveedor de atención médica de alta calidad innovador y orientado a la investigación y el desarrollo. Es el más septentrional de los cinco hospitales universitarios de Finlandia y forma parte del condado de servicios de bienestar de Ostrobotnia del Norte. Nuestro hospital está siendo renovado y reconstruido para 2030. El objetivo es construir instalaciones hospitalarias académicas seguras, resilientes, sostenibles y funcionales que sirvan a la mitad de Finlandia geográficamente. Además de la construcción de nuevas instalaciones, también estamos renovando nuestros modelos operativos para cumplir con los requisitos futuros. Nuestra visión del cambio es convertirnos en el hospital más inteligente del mundo, donde las últimas tecnologías, unas instalaciones modernas y unos conocimientos actualizados se combinen para garantizar una atención médica especializada eficaz.

Acerca de la Universidad de Oulu

Universidad de Oulu: Trabajamos por un mundo más sostenible, inteligente y humano.

La Universidad de Oulu es una universidad científica internacional que crea nuevos conocimientos, bienestar e innovaciones para el futuro a través de la investigación y la educación. La Universidad de Oulu, fundada en 1958, es una de las universidades más grandes y multidisciplinarias de Finlandia. La universidad de Oulu tiene más de 3800 empleados y más de 13 800 estudiantes en 8 facultades.

En todas sus actividades, la Universidad de Oulu se esfuerza por lograr una excelente calidad y una alta eficiencia. Nuestros investigadores publican casi 3000 publicaciones científicas cada año y cada año surgen varias nuevas empresas impulsadas por la investigación. La Universidad de Oulu lleva a cabo una investigación impactante y responsable. Nuestro objetivo es proporcionar una excelente experiencia estudiantil y una comunidad universitaria saludable. Nuestros valores son: Crear lo nuevo, asumir responsabilidades y triunfar juntos. El desarrollo sostenible es un objetivo en todas nuestras operaciones.

Obtén más información en https://www.oulu.fi/en/university

Acerca de WICOAR Technologies Oy

WICOAR Technologies es pionera en la innovación en el ámbito sanitario con tecnología de vanguardia. WICOAR valora la simplificación de las tareas para los profesionales médicos, lo que les permite centrarse en lo que más importa: atender a los pacientes. Por tanto, nuestras soluciones aportan beneficios para la actividad sanitaria, como WICOAR HealthAudio, la plataforma de comunicación que mejora la colaboración fluida para el personal médico, y WICOAR HealthVision, el dispositivo portátil inalámbrico inteligente que ayuda a ver los datos para usarlos en salas de pacientes y quirófanos. Con el compromiso de crear un futuro donde la tecnología empodere a los profesionales sanitarios, nuestro objetivo es mejorar la prestación de servicios sanitarios con total seguridad y privacidad en la gestión de datos, así como mejorar la atención al paciente. Al introducir un sistema sanitario innovador para médicos, enfermeras y pacientes, WICOAR Technologies Oy busca transformar los hospitales en entornos más eficientes y centrados en los pacientes.

Más información: https://www.wicoar.com

Financiado por la Unión Europea

Financiado por la Unión Europea. Sin embargo, los puntos de vista y opiniones expresados son únicamente los de los autores y no reflejan necesariamente los de la Unión Europea o de la Agencia Ejecutiva Europea de Salud y Digital (HaDeA). Ni la Unión Europea ni la autoridad otorgante pueden ser consideradas responsables por ellos.