Report: Walmart wants Verizon 5G network to support in-store health hubs

Walmart reportedly plans to offer in-store digital health services based on next-generation mobile connectivity.

According to Pymnts, Walmart is negotiating with Verizon to provide a 5G wireless network that the discount giant would test in two stores to support a digital health offering for both employees and customers. If the pilot were to prove successful, Walmart would roll out the health service to all 4,700 U.S. stores, creating in-store hubs for medical treatment and services.

The Verizon network, which would feature antennas and other hardware, could also serve to improve in-store mobile device coverage, support more advanced in-store loss prevention monitoring, and be a platform for launching pilots of other digital services. Pymnts’s coverage followed up initial reports in the Wall Street Journal.

Walmart has been actively trying to dive more deeply into health care with offerings such as freestanding facilities devoted to health-and-wellness. The retailer recently opened its second Walmart Health location, adjacent to a Walmart Supercenter in Calhoun, Georgia. The Walmart Health format ffers primary and urgent care, labs, x-ray and diagnostics, counseling, dental, optical and hearing services at what the retailer says is affordable, transparent pricing regardless of a patient’s insurance status.