Walmart believes 5G and edge computing might be enablers of a new healthcare capability inside its retail stores.
The company hopes it can create healthcare delivery services by using 5G and edge computing to connect patients in-store with remote medical professionals, in addition to having in-store clinic personnel, for example.
In addition, third party ability to use Walmart 5G, edge computing and logistics will create additional revenue streams from logistics as a service or computing as a service sales, much as
Amazon Web Services now drives profit for Amazon.
At the same time, the edge computing and 5G should allow Walmart to support its internal operations with more-extensive video surveillance, perhaps video point of sale use cases and inventory monitoring.
Walmart operates some 4,700 U.S. stores, many of which are “supercenters” of around 180,000 square feet offering 100,000 products. They are often open 24 hours and are essentially community gathering spots. Walmart estimates that 90 percent of the U.S. population lives within 10 miles of a Walmart location.
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