Evaluating the Impact of 5G and 4G Networks on the Performance of Real-Time Health Monitoring Systems

Abstract

This paper investigates the performance of 5G networks compared to 4G LTE, WiFi, and BLE for transmitting real-time health monitoring data. Using Apple Watch Series 7 and Fitbit Sense devices connected to commercial 5G and 4G networks, our experimental analysis demonstrates that 5G technology offers significant advantages for healthcare monitoring applications. Results show a 62% reduction in latency (8.2ms versus 21.6ms), 83.4% improvement in throughput, and 75% reduction in packet loss compared to 4G LTE networks. The low latency achieved with 5G (8.2ms) is particularly critical for remote cardiac monitoring, where transmission delays directly impact clinical response time. Signal strength correlation analysis reveals that 5G networks maintain performance consistency across varying RSRP levels, with only 16% performance degradation at -110dBm compared to 42% for 4G networks. Our findings confirm that 5G networks provide the reliability and performance required for next-generation real-time health monitoring systems, especially for applications requiring continuous vital sign monitoring and immediate clinical feedback.