The 25th China Medical Team in Ethiopia has been providing essential healthcare services in one of the most underserved regions of the country. However, one of the critical challenges they faced was unstable and slow internet connectivity, which hindered their ability to deliver timely medical consultations and access vital online resources.
Reliable internet is crucial for the team’s day-to-day operations, including remote consultations, medical training, and staying in touch with loved ones.
Recognizing this issue, ZTE Corporation stepped in with a timely solution. ZTE donated its advanced FTTR (Fiber to the Room) technology to the team to replace the outdated, slow copper-based network. This generous gesture has significantly improved internet speed and reliability to allow the team to enhance their work efficiency and overall quality of life while carrying out their important mission in Ethiopia.
Challenges in Connectivity Faced by the Medical Team
The China Medical Team stationed in Ethiopia encountered significant challenges with their previous internet setup, which severely hindered their work efficiency and daily activities. They relied on a broadband plan that was supposed to provide 100 Mbps of speed, but the reality was far from ideal. The actual usable speed often dropped to under 30 Mbps, which caused frustration and inefficiencies in their operations.
In fact, the network was built on traditional copper-based infrastructure and utilized wifi 4 routers. While these routers were commonplace in many environments, they lacked the performance needed to meet the demands of the medical team's tasks.
Network interruptions were frequent, which made it difficult to maintain a stable connection for critical activities, such as remote consultations, medical training sessions, and video calls with families. The poor coverage further compounded these issues. Certain areas of the team’s facility experienced weak or no signal, which limited the ability to work effectively in various parts of the building.
This unreliable internet setup not only affected the medical team's professional responsibilities but also hindered their personal lives. They were unable to communicate smoothly with their loved ones. The situation highlighted the need for a more robust and modern solution that could address these connectivity gaps and support the team’s important work.
Introduction to ZTE’s FTTR Solution
ZTE’s FTTR (Fiber to the Room) solution represents a major leap forward in internet connectivity, offering a modern alternative to traditional network setups. The FTTR-B solution specifically utilizes a full-fiber architecture, which replaces the older copper-based systems that often fail to provide the speed and stability required.
One of the standout features of ZTE’s FTTR-B solution is its support for wifi 6 technology. This next-generation wifi standard delivers faster speeds, greater capacity, and improved efficiency, especially in high-demand environments.
wifi 6 ensures that multiple devices can connect to the internet simultaneously without compromising performance—a crucial feature for environments like medical teams, where seamless communication and data transfer are essential.
In addition to wifi 6, the FTTR-B solution provides strong coverage and high bandwidth, eliminating the issues of slow internet speeds and weak signals that can frustrate users. The system’s low latency ensures a smooth online experience, whether for remote consultations or streaming HD videos.
Seamless Mesh roaming allows devices to maintain a stable connection as they move across different areas, making sure that interruptions are kept to a minimum. These features make ZTE’s FTTR-B solution an ideal choice for environments that demand high performance and reliability.
ZTE WiFi: Impact of Enhanced Connectivity on Medical Operations
The introduction of ZTE’s advanced FTTR (Fiber to the Room) solution has dramatically transformed the way the 25th China Medical Team operates in Ethiopia. With the enhanced connectivity, the team has experienced a reliable and fast network. This significantly boosted their work efficiency.
One of the most notable benefits has been the facilitation of remote consultations to allow medical professionals to connect with experts and patients across borders. This has not only sped up diagnoses but also improved patient care.
Additionally, online training has become seamless. The team can stay updated with the latest medical practices and procedures without disruptions. The FTTR solution’s stable connection guarantees that learning materials, videos, and live sessions load quickly. This improves the overall training experience for team members.
Handling medical reports has also become more efficient. The improved internet speed supports the swift uploading and downloading of large medical files, including patient records and diagnostic images. This has cut down wait times, allowing for faster decision-making in critical situations.
ZTE's WiFi 6 technology enables high bandwidth and low latency, which makes all of these tasks run smoothly. This modern approach ultimately improves the quality of care provided and boosts the overall operational effectiveness of the medical team.
Previously, ZTE Corporation has partnered with China Telecom's Suzhou Branch to deploy a 5G IoT network at The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University. This advanced solution improves mobile healthcare services and supports the hospital’s digital transformation.
Compared to traditional IoT networks, the new system connects various medical devices while reducing costs and complexity. It simplifies network management, lowers upgrade expenses by 80%, and cuts construction time by 90%. By replacing IoT gateways with base stations, the hospital achieves a more efficient and cost-effective network.
Since 2023, the hospital, China Telecom, and ZTE have been building a 5G smart hospital using ZTE’s "1+M+X" model. This structure integrates digital platforms to improve hospital operations, supporting smart emergency services, inpatient care, and elderly care. The scalable system enables future innovations, strengthening the hospital’s digital foundation.
ZTE’s donation of its FTTR solution has greatly improved the China Medical Team’s operational capabilities in Ethiopia. Now, the team have a stable, high-speed internet connection. This advanced technology replaced the outdated copper-based network that restrained the team’s ability to perform essential tasks efficiently.
By addressing the communication challenges faced by medical teams in remote locations, ZTE is contributing to the effectiveness of international medical missions. Initiatives like this strengthen global partnerships by showcasing how technology can play a vital role in supporting humanitarian efforts and improving lives worldwide. ZTE’s commitment to innovation continues to drive progress and deepen the relationship between China and Ethiopia.