Silva Óscar, Teixeira Emanuel Bordalo, Corceiro Ana, Reis Antonio D, Velez Fernando J
Instituto de Telecomunicações, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade da Beira Interior, Calçada Fonte do Lameiro, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal.
Departamento de Engenharia Eletromecânica, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade da Beira Interior, Calçada Fonte do Lameiro, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal.
Sensors (Basel). 2025 Aug 9;25(16):4933. doi: 10.3390/s25164933.
The adoption of wireless medical technologies in hospital environments is often limited by cellular coverage issues, especially in indoor areas with complex structures. This study presents a detailed radio spectrum measurement campaign conducted at the Cova da Beira University Hospital Center (CHUCB), using the NARDA SRM-3006 and R&STSME6 equipment. The signal strength and quality of 5G NR, LTE, UMTS, and NB-IoT technologies were evaluated. Critical coverage gaps were identified, particularly at points 17, 19, and 21. Results revealed that operators MEO and NOS dominate coverage, with MEO providing better 5G NR coverage and NOS excelling in LTE signal quality. Based on the results, the localized installation of femtocells is proposed to improve coverage in these areas. The approach was designed to be scalable and replicable, with a planned application at Cumura Hospital (Guinea-Bissau), reinforcing the applicability of the solution in contexts with limited infrastructure. This work provides both technical and clinical contributions to achieving ubiquitous cellular coverage in healthcare settings.
医院环境中无线医疗技术的采用常常受到蜂窝网络覆盖问题的限制,尤其是在结构复杂的室内区域。本研究展示了在贝拉地区大学医院中心(CHUCB)使用NARDA SRM - 3006和R&STSME6设备进行的详细无线电频谱测量活动。评估了5G NR、LTE、UMTS和NB - IoT技术的信号强度和质量。识别出了关键的覆盖缺口,特别是在17、19和21点。结果显示,运营商MEO和NOS主导覆盖,其中MEO提供更好的5G NR覆盖,而NOS在LTE信号质量方面表现出色。基于这些结果,建议在这些区域进行家庭基站的本地化安装以改善覆盖。该方法设计为可扩展且可复制的,计划在几内亚比绍的库穆拉医院应用,加强该解决方案在基础设施有限环境中的适用性。这项工作为在医疗环境中实现无处不在的蜂窝网络覆盖提供了技术和临床方面的贡献。