Huoshenshan hospital was built in the city in ten days to accommodate a rapid rise in infections, and Huawei installed its 5G network. That included the completion of network planning, a survey, design, fibre installation, base station deployment, and commissioning in just three days.
This meant the hospital could carry out day-to-day functions as well as digital services that are beneficial during an outbreak of an infectious disease – such as data collection, remote diagnosis and remote monitoring. Huawei is also supporting local operators in delivering 5G and guaranteeing high-speed Internet access in another Wuhan hospital.
Writing on Huawei’s blog, Kevin Zhang said, “We aren’t at the frontlines, we aren’t taking the risks that many people are. But ICT still has a role to play. At a basic level, digital connectivity is helping to make the management and containment of the virus more efficient.
“Apps and network connectivity are ensuring that food supplies reach the homes of hundreds of millions of house-bound Chinese each day. Self-reporting of health status, getting information about the condition, and receiving guidance on handling the virus are digitalised in a way that we’ve never seen before.”
Coronavirus is a threat to life, but people are also concerned about the knock-on effects on livelihoods and the economy. Zhang also discussed the situation in Shenzhen, where numerous restaurants, shops, businesses, and schools have been closed since Chinese New Year in late January. People have instead been using delivery apps to have food delivered.
Huawei says it has been helping through providing Huawei Cloud to SMEs for free in China. Its work platform Huawei Cloud WeLink provides a range of functions, including instant messaging, electronic whiteboard for remote collaboration, and mobile approval processes. The video conferencing function lets companies with fewer than 1,000 employees open free online accounts and run real-time online meetings with up to 100 participants.
The Learn Anytime Education Alliance, launched by Huawei Cloud, provides online teaching and learning services for primary and secondary schools, training centres, and higher education. The platform has served millions of students to date, and Huawei hopes that it can help minimise the impact of coronavirus on students across China. Huawei Cloud WeLink is currently serving more than 10,000 healthcare centres, hospitals, government departments, and schools and training centres.
With the wave of announcements of similar measures – such as school closures and limits on public gatherings – being put in place in countries across the world this week, other communities could consider whether similar networks and platforms could help.
