Fifth Generation Cellular Networks and Neurosurgery: A Narrative Review

Connectivity is a driving force for productivity across a wide variety of sectors in the 21st century, with health care being no exception. Fifth generation cellular technology (5G) is frequently alluded to in the mainstream media but understanding of the technology and its potential impact is not widespread in clinical communities. It promises unprecedented improvement in speed, bandwidth, reliability, and latency, all of which have significant implications for the way we use wireless data. 5G can be subdivided into 3 parallel technological architectures: extended mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC), and massive machine type communication (mMTC). These domains each present different and exciting prospects for the future of health care. This narrative review aims to elucidate the nature of 5G, its context within the development of telecommunications, and describe some of the notable opportunities it presents to the neurosurgical community. In many cases the requisite hardware has already been developed, but use has been limited by the requirements of a fast, reliable, and omnipresent network connection. Examples include telesurgical robots, remote supervision of procedures, integrated smart operating rooms, and clinician telepresence. The events of 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic have brought the world's attention to digital transformation. The mechanics of 5G connectivity creates the capacity for these changes to be applied practically. An understanding of this technology is essential to appreciate the development and opportunities which will be part of our professional future.