Co-Existence of Private 5G Network and Wireless Hospital Systems

TL;DR

This study tests the feasibility and safety of deploying a private 5G network in a hospital operating room by conducting a 24-hour, wideband spectrum survey from 400 MHz to 6.1 GHz in a real clinical environment. It demonstrates spectral isolation of the 3.9–4.1 GHz private band from adjacent LTE and Wi‑Fi channels and confirms RF exposure levels in the operating room remain far below ICNIRP/WHO safety limits. The work combines high-resolution measurements with a controlled methodology and proposes spectrum management strategies, including adaptive sensing and robust guard bands, to enable coexistence with legacy wireless systems. By providing empirical evidence and practical guidelines, the study supports the safe integration of private 5G infrastructure in hospitals and informs regulatory and policy discussions on spectrum access for critical infrastructure.

Abstract

This paper investigates the feasibility of deploying private 5G networks in hospital environments, with a focus on the operating room at the brand new Oulu University Hospital, Finland. The study aims to evaluate the interference risk with other wireless systems, and electromagnetic safety of a private 5G network in the 3.9-4.1 GHz band, while ensuring compatibility with legacy wireless systems, such as LTE and Wi-Fi. We conducted a measurement campaign, employing state-of-the-art instrumentation and a methodology that combined high resolution and long-duration spectrum scans. The results demonstrate no measurable interference between the hospital's private 5G network with adjacent LTE (4G) or Wi-Fi bands, confirming the spectral isolation of the 5G transmissions, and vise versa. Additionally, RF exposure levels in the operating room were found to be well below ICNIRP, WHO, and IEEE safety thresholds, ensuring that the network poses negligible biological risk to patients and hospital staff. The study also proposes spectrum management strategies for private 5G networks in hospitals, focusing on adaptive sensing and guardband planning. These findings provide a solid foundation for the integration of private 5G infrastructure in hospitals environments, supporting digital transformation in patient care without compromising electromagnetic compatibility or patient safety. The results also contribute to ongoing discussions around private 5G network deployments in sensitive sectors and provide actionable guidelines for future hospitals' wireless systems planning.

Figures (5)

• Figure 1: Illustration of the radio frequency landscape in a smart hospital.
• Figure 2: (a) Operation room at the New Hospital facility; (b) Measurement setup architecture used for the spectrum campaign.
• Figure 3: Illustration of 5G network isolation in the operation room.
• Figure 4: Received power spectral density in the new hospital corridors outside operation room.
• Figure 5: Measured maximum signal amplitudes compared with the safety standards of ICNIRP, WHO, ITU, and IEEE.