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GSMA Foundry has formed a strategic partnership with Singapore's National University Health System (NUHS) to develop and deploy healthcare applications using 5G connectivity and artificial intelligence.
The agreement brings together the mobile industry's innovation hub and an integrated academic health system in Singapore. NUHS spans 13 hospitals, as well as research and education institutions. Work will begin at NUHS sites in Singapore, with additional early adopter centres planned in other countries.
Technology focus
The partnership will focus on 5G virtual private networks and advanced 5G connectivity, along with digital twins, extended reality (XR), internet of things devices and ambient AI. Initial workstreams include 5G-enabled remote surgical assistance, XR training and simulation, robotic systems and intelligent facilities management.
The programme covers both clinical and operational use cases. Remote surgical support and XR simulation sit alongside facilities management, such as monitoring equipment and building systems through connected sensors and software. Digital twins and connected devices can help model hospital processes and track assets in real time.
Adjunct Associate Professor Gao Yujia, Assistant Group Chief Technology Officer at NUHS, said: "By harnessing advanced connectivity and innovative technologies such as ambient AI, XR and robotics, we are accelerating the development of truly intelligent hospitals. This integrated approach enhances clinical workflows and allows care teams to work more efficiently and effectively. I am passionate about how AI and connected systems can transform hospital operations - elevating precision, improving patient experience and empowering clinicians with the tools they need to deliver better outcomes across every stage of care."
Richard Cockle, Head of GSMA Foundry, said the partnership is intended to help projects move beyond single sites to wider adoption across the mobile ecosystem.
"Connected health is one of the most impactful frontiers for mobile technology. Our agreement with NUHS demonstrates how collaboration can accelerate innovation, delivering secure, scalable solutions that improve patient outcomes and operational efficiency. We are excited to start work at sites in Singapore with more early adopter centres to follow worldwide."
Industry partners
Ericsson and Singtel are also supporting the collaboration and planned demonstrations. Ericsson is participating through its Singapore, Philippines and Brunei operation. Singtel is providing connectivity products for its 5G standalone network, including virtual private networks and network slicing.
Daniel Ode, Head of Ericsson Singapore, Philippines and Brunei, said: "Ericsson is proud to be a core enabler of the connected health journey led in Singapore by NUHS. In partnership with Singtel, we have shown how differentiated connectivity, built on high-performance 5G and combined with AI and robotics technologies, have already delivered tangible patient and operational benefits over the past few years. We are excited to see these efforts now being showcased to a global audience, amplifying the impact of our joint work. This is a journey we are excited to continue - advancing secure, scalable healthcare solutions that extend care beyond hospitals into new contexts worldwide."
Keith Leong, Chief Customer Officer, Enterprise, Singtel Singapore, said: "Singtel's advanced 5G standalone network, secure virtual private networks and network slicing capabilities are purpose-built to support the most demanding healthcare environments, delivering the ultra-reliable, low-latency and secure connectivity required for mission-critical applications. Working closely with NUHS, we have already demonstrated tangible outcomes - from enabling remote surgical support and immersive XR training to powering intelligent robotics and hospital-at-home models that improve patient experience and clinical efficiency. Through the GSMA Foundry, we are excited to scale these innovations and push the boundaries of connected health to accelerate the next wave of advancements towards 6G-enabled care."
MWC showcase
The partners plan to demonstrate connected health applications at MWC Barcelona, with NUHS featured at the GSMA Pavilion in Hall 4. The showcase includes systems that combine connectivity with on-site devices and clinical software.
One demonstration features an intelligent robot nurse companion designed to use real-time data to carry out clinical tasks. Another will show 3D holographic surgical planning using Microsoft's HoloLens 2, providing anatomical visualisations for procedure planning.
Planned exhibits also include AI-driven augmented reality for vein detection and a hospital-at-home setup. The hospital-at-home concept extends care beyond conventional hospital settings, supported by connected monitoring and clinical workflows.
Gao is scheduled to speak at the Digital Health Summit and the Global Health Connector Summit at 4YFN, discussing the role of connectivity and AI in healthcare delivery.