Real-Time Medical Training in Virtual Reality over 5G Open RAN: A Performance Study

The convergence of immersive technologies and next-generation communication networks offers new potential for advancing surgical training. This paper presents the Magos Bakri Balloon Placement Training (MBBPT) system, a Virtual Reality (VR) simulation platform integrated with haptic feedback and 5th Generation (5G) Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) connectivity. The system enables realistic and interactive medical training, leveraging submillimeter-precision hand tracking and kinesthetic feedback from Magos gloves. To evaluate the feasibility and performance of network-assisted VR training, MBBPT was tested across a disaggregated O-RAN-based private 5G testbed at University College Dublin (UCD), a standalone private 5G testbed at Patras, and a cross-site setup linking both. The setup assessed Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Key Value Indicators (KVIs) to show the system supports responsive, multiuser VR interactions across geographically distributed sites, with consistent performance. These findings highlight the role of 5G O-RAN as an enabler for scalable, collaborative, high-fidelity immersive medical education.