Digital Health Strategies by Telco B2B and B2C and Approaches to Monetization, 2023

Telco Digital Health Strategies Market Overview

Digital health solutions can enhance operational efficiency, increase healthcare accessibility, improve patient outcomes, optimize the cost of healthcare for governments per citizen, and advance medical procedures (e.g., diagnosis, surgery, research, patient monitoring, and disease prevention). Digital health or eHealth covers a wide array of use cases ranging from hospital information systems to surgical robotics.

This digital health strategies by telco report provides a comprehensive examination of the digital health value chain and business models. It helps executives fully understand the ecosystem, market dynamics, latest developments, and value chain. It helps telecom decision-makers determine key digital health positioning strategies, formulate effective product development plans, and optimize return on investments.

Digital Health - Drivers

The digital health space is impacted by several drivers such as further technology adoption and national digital health initiatives as well as inhibitors like data privacy and cyberattacks.

Emerging Technologies (e.g., AI, blockchain): Current developments are more about mixed reality (XR) involving online patient monitoring and teleconsultations. We are heading towards more tech-applied processes such as virtual surgical procedures based on AR/VR or blockchain-protected health data records all aiming at optimal patient care, focused on privacy and quality of care together.

Digital Health – Value Chain

From health data collection to the digital health platform and application, several components are required to support digital health use cases. The key value chain components of digital health are health data acquisition & collection, connectivity, digital health platform, digital health app, and security.

The connectivity layer is the network that transmits the collected data. This layer includes LANs, private networks, 5G, FTTx, and WiFi. Higher-speed and lower-latency connectivity enables more advanced digital health use cases requiring real-time data acquisition and processing (e.g., remote surgery), as well as critical communications (e.g., connected ambulances).

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Digital Health - Telcos’ Positioning Options

Telcos can position themselves as players in both the B2B and B2C segments of the digital health market. Digital health use cases vary widely from healthcare information systems to robotics. The market includes B2B and B2C offerings where telcos can play. Telcos can offer their horizontal solutions and package/fine-tune them for healthcare providers and to the healthcare regulatory demand; for example, through connectivity, security, IoT, data center & cloud solutions, big data analytics, and AI.

Telcos can also develop vertical-specific portfolios through partnerships, M&As (e.g., with digital health applications, platform, and software providers, specialized vendors, and hyper scalers), and internal R&D.

Digital Health - Supporting Technologies

Healthcare providers are looking to leverage advanced technologies to provide digital health, an area where telcos and ICT providers can offer their expertise and solution portfolios. The key technology supporting the digital health space are AI/ML, Cloud Computing and Edge Computing, Blockchain, Connectivity, 5G, Big Data Analytics (BDA), and the Internet of Things (IoT).

For instance, the healthcare industry is employing cloud technology for a variety of usages, including data storage, device interconnectivity, and communication. Protecting the data stored in the cloud is of utmost importance, as this data is often sensitive and personal. The major use cases are e.g., hospital information systems, 5G connected ambulances, and remote patient monitoring.

Digital Health – Competitive Landscape

Several telcos are moving beyond just connectivity to become digital health platforms and solution providers; along with providing operations, security, and management services. The key players include Medtronic, Jio, Microsoft, Babylon, and TCS among others.

Digital Health Ecosystem Players

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Scope

The report provides an in-depth analysis of the following –

• Digital health taxonomy & market context: an overview of the global digital health market, including a definition, key drivers & inhibitors, and latest trends. A deep dive into three selected trends – i.e., increased network coverage and use of emerging technologies, national health strategies, and digital health regulations – is also provided with the positioning considerations these present for telcos.
• The digital health ecosystem & how telcos can position themselves: an overview of the digital health value chain and ecosystem players map, including telcos. This section also explores key digital health-supporting technologies and deep dives into the telemedicine latest trends. Moroever, the section details 13 examples of telcos’ current involvement in digital health B2B and B2C solutions.
• Case studies: this section analyzes the digital health portfolios, value propositions, and positioning strategies of four telecom operators.
• Key findings and recommendations: the report concludes with several key findings and a set of recommendations for digital health stakeholders, including telecom service providers.

Key Highlights

• National digital health strategies are supporting eHealth adoption and providing opportunities for telcos to further position as digital transformation partners to governments and healthcare providers.
• Telcos have pursued partnerships, joint ventures, and M&As to enter the digital health space.
• Telcos can partner with third-party telemedicine app providers and insurers to offer teleconsultation and health tracking apps to their residential and enterprise customers.
• Hyperscalers provide new partnership opportunities for telcos to further diversify their revenue streams beyond connectivity, notably in the upsurging digital health sector.
• Telcos can offer their horizontal ICT solutions and customize them for the healthcare sector while complying with local and global healthcare regulations. Telcos can also develop vertical-specific digital health portfolios.

Reasons to Buy

• This Global Outlook Report provides a comprehensive examination of the digital health value chain and business models. It helps executives fully understand the ecosystem, market dynamics, latest developments, and value chain. It helps telecom decision-makers determine key digital health positioning strategies, formulate effective product development plans, and optimize return on investments.
• Three case studies illustrate the findings of the report, providing insights into different telco digital health value propositions across the world, including services, monetization approaches, and partnerships. This will help telecom executives craft adapted digital health strategies to unlock new revenue streams.
• The report discusses concrete opportunities in the digital health market, providing a number of actionable recommendations for digital health ecosystem participants, including telecom service providers.