Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain
the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in
Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles
and JavaScript.
The local deployment of 5G platforms for 5G-enabled healthcare in hospitals and clinics can provide a route for the development of digital healthcare technologies in rural Africa.
Governments have underestimated the importance of technology governance in 5G development and will look to reassert control over key technologies. If future technologies are to be based on global standards, and not become geographically fragmented, the technology community need to urgently address this challenge.
The fifth generation of mobile phone technology — 5G — promises higher data rates and more reliable communication than previous generations, leading to a variety of novel applications. But to make this a reality, developments in a range of technologies will be required.