During the Burgas Digital 2025 conference, one of the most significant European projects in the field of digital healthcare was presented – 5GEDGE4HEALTH, focused on transforming pediatric care through the implementation of 5G technologies, artificial intelligence, and telemedicine. The project was presented by Kaloyan Borovinov from VIVACOM and drew great attention thanks to its practical orientation and potential to change the way children in remote areas receive medical care.
5GEDGE4HEALTH is being implemented by VIVACOM, the Municipality of Burgas, the Southeast Digital Innovation Hub (DIGIHUB), and Prof. Dr. Assen Zlatarov University – Burgas, with co-funding from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Digital) of the European Union. The project started in December 2024 and will run until November 2027, with a total budget of over €3.2 million.
Its main goal is to ensure equal access to modern healthcare services for children, regardless of their location. In many areas of Bulgaria, there is still a shortage of pediatric specialists and medical centers, which limits timely diagnosis and treatment. The project aims to overcome this challenge by creating an intelligent, connected pediatric ecosystem where technology directly serves people.
As part of the initiative, 5G mobile medical units will operate across 34 settlements in the region, providing preventive check-ups, screenings, and online consultations with pediatricians. A coordination and consultation center will be established in the new “St. Anastasia” Hospital in Burgas, along with a telemedicine laboratory at Prof. Dr. Assen Zlatarov University. Through edge computing infrastructure, medical data will be processed and analyzed in real time, enabling faster diagnostics, better coordination between hospitals and mobile teams, and reducing unnecessary hospitalizations.
The project also includes emergency telemedicine scenarios, where fully equipped ambulances will connect directly with experts in Burgas, allowing doctors in the field to receive real-time guidance in critical situations. This will shorten response times and improve the overall quality of care.
5GEDGE4HEALTH stands as an example of how modern technologies can address real societal challenges. It supports key European priorities under Digital Decade 2030, CEF Digital, and the “Regions in Growth” Programme 2021-2027, contributing to the digitalization of public services and the development of connected, resilient communities.
With the implementation of the project, Burgas is becoming a pilot model for the future of healthcare in Europe, showing how synergy between technology, expertise, and public engagement can ensure better healthcare for every child, no matter where they live.
“The health of every child should not depend on where they were born.” With this message, 5GEDGE4HEALTH presents its vision for a healthier and more connected future, where digital innovation serves the most valuable resource – human life.
