The actual total two-way communication distance between Zhang and his patient was more than 20,000km, a considerable challenge since longer distances can cause more latency, or delay, between the surgeon’s console in one location, and the response of the robotic arms at the other location.

In this case, China’s 5G telecommunication network helped to lower the delay to a 135 millisecond latency, less that the 200 millisecond latency that various studies have identified as ideal for telesurgery.

I never would have guessed Cyber Surgeon could be on the Work From Home bingo card.