OpenHealth5G Selected in OpenRAN@Brasil Open RAN Applications Call
The OpenHealth5G project has been approved under the OpenRAN@Brasil Call for 5G Open RAN Applications, and UFRGS has been designated as a host institution for the testbed.
The OpenHealth5G — Open 5G Networking for Digital Health project has been approved in the recent Call for 5G Open RAN Applications and Host Institutions, launched by the OpenRAN@Brasil program. The selection recognizes the proposal’s potential to leverage 5G open radio access infrastructure to drive innovation in Digital Health, one of the strategic focus areas defined by the call.
The OpenHealth5G proposal aims to develop applications that use open radio access networks to create connected health solutions, capable of harnessing advanced 5G features — such as ultra-low latency, high reliability, and network slicing — to address the needs of the healthcare sector in Brazil and in other global contexts.
The project’s objectives include:
- Building digital health ecosystems that benefit from the flexibility and reconfigurability of Open RAN networks
- Developing prototypes of remote health services and real-time monitoring in real 5G environments
- Validating open network technologies for healthcare scenarios, promoting the convergence between telecommunications and health innovation
- Fostering inter-institutional collaboration between telecommunications researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry
UFRGS as Testbed Host Institution
In addition to the application selection, the call also approved new host institutions that will receive OpenRAN@Brasil testbed islands. The Southern region was coordinated by César Hass, with participation from RNP/POP-RS, UFRGS, Unisinos, UFCSPA, and PUCRS.
The selection of UFRGS as a host institution strengthens the national expansion of the testbed and positions the Rio Grande do Sul campus as one of the pillars of 5G experimentation infrastructure in Southern Brazil, broadening access for researchers and research groups to the platform.
New Host Institutions for OpenRAN@Brasil Islands
The expansion of host institutions reinforces the program’s strategy of national infrastructure expansion, enabling greater reach and researcher access across Brazil’s North, Northeast, and South regions:
| Region | Institution | Coordinator |
|---|---|---|
| North | POP-PA / UFPA | Aldebaro Klautau |
| Northeast | UFRN | Augusto Neto |
| South | RNP/POP-RS, UFRGS, Unisinos, UFCSPA, PUCRS | César Hass |
Next Steps
Following the call approval, the OpenHealth5G project will begin its development and experimentation phase on the 5G Open RAN island installed at UFRGS, validating real-world use cases for open networks in digital health and laying the groundwork for future international collaborations in the field.
About the OpenRAN@Brasil Program
The OpenRAN@Brasil program is an initiative aimed at fostering innovative solutions based on open radio access networks. Through public calls, the program selects applications and host institutions that contribute to experimentation, technological validation, and the generation of applied knowledge across different use cases, aligned with Brazil’s national needs for innovation and digital transformation.