Wireless & Wearables

America’s wireless networks are transforming healthcare by turning wearables into 24/7 medical devices. Wearables sense issues before they become serious problems, and wireless networks make the connection, enabling real-time treatment and continuous care wherever people are.

Together, they enable real-time treatment and continuous care wherever people are—enhancing wellness, speeding disease detection, and helping manage chronic conditions.

And thanks to ubiquitous, nationwide coverage, millions of Americans are already taking control of their health with wireless-connected wearables.

Stylized image of a person using their smartwatch
Stylized image of CTIA President and CEO Ajit Pai

Behind every connected device is a person—a new mom, a heart patient, a senior living independently, or someone managing diabetes every day. Wireless technology is giving people new ways to understand their health, stay connected to care, and live longer, healthier lives."

AJIT PAI

President and CEO 

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107M

Americans use wearables to enhance their health

90%

of America’s healthcare spending is driven by chronic disease

$7T

can be saved with better prevention and management of chronic disease

13.5M Lives

can be saved with better prevention and management of chronic disease

Enhancing Health & Wellness

Wireless wearables are helping millions of Americans access care and take real charge of their health.

Aging in Place
Wellness
Maternal and Fetal Health
Rural Healthcare

Enhancing Health & Wellness

Helping Seniors Age in Place

Medical alert wearables are helping keep seniors safe and allowing them to age in place. Wireless-connected smartwatches, wrist sensors and necklaces track falls, monitor heart rate and blood pressure, track location, and alert caregivers and healthcare teams in real-time. The result: families gain peace of mind, seniors stay independent longer, and doctors have the data they need to catch problems before they escalate.

Image of a woman named Sandra on a light blue background with quote attributed to her. The quote reads "Having this connected smart watch gives me the confidence to go out into the world and do the things that I want to do.”
Image of a woman named Sandra on a light blue background with quote attributed to her. The quote reads "Having this connected smart watch gives me the confidence to go out into the world and do the things that I want to do.”

Enhancing Health & Wellness

Enabling Health & Wellness

More than one in three Americans today use wireless-powered smartwatches, rings, and sensors to track physical activity, sleep, heart rate, or other key indicators throughout the day. They are using this real-time data to reach their fitness goals, improve nutrition, and prevent health problems before they start. And research shows that these tools don’t just track activity, they lead to real improvements, with step counters helping users walk an average of 1,800 more steps, for 40 additional minutes each day.

Image of a man named Curt on a green background with quote attributed to him. The quote reads "Every athlete and physical artist needs to track their real-time health data. The wireless aspect is a game changer.”
Image of a man named Curt on a green background with quote attributed to him. The quote reads "Every athlete and physical artist needs to track their real-time health data. The wireless aspect is a game changer.”
Stylized illustration showing a pregnant woman and heart icon beside the statistic: “28% more newborns avoided an extended NICU stay when diabetic mothers used a continuous glucose monitor”

Enhancing Health & Wellness

Supporting Maternal and Fetal Health

Pregnancy carries real risks. High blood pressure, gestational diabetes, and other complications can develop silently and quickly. Wireless-powered wearables such as continuous glucose monitors, blood pressure bands and remote fetal monitors, help expectant mothers and their doctors spot problems early, and make sure mothers and newborns remain healthy after delivery.

Stylized illustration showing a pregnant woman and heart icon beside the statistic: “28% more newborns avoided an extended NICU stay when diabetic mothers used a continuous glucose monitor”
Stylized illustration showing a pregnant woman and heart icon beside the statistic: “28% more newborns avoided an extended NICU stay when diabetic mothers used a continuous glucose monitor”
Stylized illustration showing a clipboard and an upward moving arrow beside the statistic: "71% of remote health programs for older rural adults found significant health improvements"

Enhancing Health & Wellness

Connecting Rural America to Healthcare

Wireless-enabled wearables are improving healthcare access in rural America, which is home to two-thirds of the country's primary care shortage areas. In rural communities, wireless networks fill the gap where wired broadband doesn't reach, ensuring patients receive uninterrupted care no matter their location. Wearables enable rural patients to track health indicators around the clock and connect to specialist-level care, wherever they live.

Stylized illustration showing a clipboard and an upward moving arrow beside the statistic: "71% of remote health programs for older rural adults found significant health improvements"
Stylized illustration showing a clipboard and an upward moving arrow beside the statistic: "71% of remote health programs for older rural adults found significant health improvements"
Stylized image of Alcina

Having access to the wearables and the real-time data, I can track my health anywhere.”

ALCINA

41%

of U.S. adults now use wearables to track their health

30M

Americans with hypertension use a wearable to manage their condition

7M

with a history of heart disease use a wearable to manage their condition

58% growth

in wearable use among American adults in five years

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Monitoring Chronic Conditions

Six in ten American adults live with a chronic condition, and four in ten live with two or more. Wearables provide continuous, real-time data to improve management and drive better outcomes.

Remote Monitoring
Heart Disease Management
Living with Diabetes
Assistive Technology

MONITORING CHRONIC CONDITIONS

Remote Patient Monitoring Improves Outcomes

According to the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, better prevention, earlier intervention, and smarter management could save 13.5 million lives and $7 trillion in the next 15 years. Remote patient monitoring tools are delivering on that promise. Hospitals using wireless-enabled wearables see readmission rates drop by more than 65% in some patient groups, while 74% of patients report that remote monitoring makes them feel safer.

Stylized illustration showing a hospital and a downward moving arrow beside the statistic: "65% drop in hospital readmission rates for hospitals using wearables to monitor patients remotely"
Stylized illustration showing a hospital and a downward moving arrow beside the statistic: "65% drop in hospital readmission rates for hospitals using wearables to monitor patients remotely"
Image of a man named William on a dark blue background with quote attributed to him. The quote reads "I’m a cardiologist by training, and I use my smartwatch to take a rhythm strip every morning. The information is necessary.”

MONITORING CHRONIC CONDITIONS

Detecting and Managing Heart Disease

Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a leading cause of stroke, but it can develop silently. People often don’t realize they have it until symptoms worsen. Wireless smartwatches with pulse and electrocardiogram monitoring catch it early. Studies show these devices can detect Afib in people before seeking medical care, flagging Afib with 84% accuracy. And once diagnosed, wireless cardiac monitors track what's happening continuously. Doctors see how often episodes occur, whether treatment is working, and what adjustments are needed, driving better outcomes.

Image of a man named William on a dark blue background with quote attributed to him. The quote reads "I’m a cardiologist by training, and I use my smartwatch to take a rhythm strip every morning. The information is necessary.”
Image of a man named William on a dark blue background with quote attributed to him. The quote reads "I’m a cardiologist by training, and I use my smartwatch to take a rhythm strip every morning. The information is necessary.”

MONITORING CHRONIC CONDITIONS

Living with Diabetes

Wireless-enabled continuous glucose monitoring is transforming how Americans with diabetes manage the disease with 17 million using them today. Connected sensors stay on the body around the clock, allowing patients to see blood sugar and catch dangerous lows before they happen, while insulin pumps deliver doses automatically. And wireless networks share information in real-time, helping doctors spot patterns, intervene early, and adjust treatment from anywhere.

Stylized illustration showing a glucose monitor beside the statistic: "31% fewer hospitalizations for low-blood-sugar events in patients using continuous glucose monitors
Stylized illustration showing a glucose monitor beside the statistic: "31% fewer hospitalizations for low-blood-sugar events in patients using continuous glucose monitors
Image of a man named Clarke on a bright blue background with quote attributed to him. The quote reads "These smart glasses, I just put them on without thinking, because they’re part of me like shoes are when you go walking."

MONITORING CHRONIC CONDITIONS

Assistive Technology for Disabled Americans

Wearables are expanding opportunity for Americans of all abilities. Smart earbuds and glasses deliver real-time audio navigation and environmental descriptions. For those that are deaf or hard-of-hearing, wireless-enabled captioning and live transcriptions make conversations and media more accessible. Wearable devices send haptic alerts and notifications through vibration, keeping users informed without sound. Connectivity that reaches anywhere means these tools work at home, at work, and everywhere in between.

Image of a man named Clarke on a bright blue background with quote attributed to him. The quote reads "These smart glasses, I just put them on without thinking, because they’re part of me like shoes are when you go walking."
Image of a man named Clarke on a bright blue background with quote attributed to him. The quote reads "These smart glasses, I just put them on without thinking, because they’re part of me like shoes are when you go walking."

Understanding

Wireless Wearables

Smartwatches

Wireless-enabled smartwatches monitor heart rate, track activity, and detect irregularities. They provide continuous data throughout the day and alert users to changes that may warrant medical attention.

Wearable Rings

Wireless rings track heart rate variability, sleep patterns, and activity. Their compact form makes continuous monitoring effortless for everyday wear.

Medical Alert Devices

Wireless-connected necklaces and wristbands detect falls and monitor vital signs. They connect seniors directly to emergency responders or family members with a single button press.

Continuous Glucose Monitors

Wireless sensors attached to the body continuously track blood sugar levels and send data to smartphones. They alert users to dangerous highs and lows in real-time.

Assistive Devices

Wireless earphones and smart glasses deliver hearing assistance and real-time audio navigation for people with vision loss. They enable live captioning and connect users to emergency services.

Fitness Trackers

Wireless trackers monitor steps, calories, sleep, and activity patterns. Some emphasize recovery metrics and strain scoring to help users optimize training and rest.

Wearable Patches

Thin, wireless patches monitor vital signs, hydration, and temperature continuously. They stay on the skin for days without the bulk of traditional devices.

45

Wireless Makes It Possible

Making all of this possible are the tens of billions of dollars that America's wireless industry invests every year to build the world's best networks. Thanks to this investment, and a pipeline of full-power, licensed spectrum to meet surging wireless demand, more than 98% of Americans are covered by 5G today and more than 9 in 10 Americans have access to three or more providers. Wearables access those networks two ways: directly over cellular, or through Bluetooth to a paired smartphone that carries the data the rest of the way. Continued support for free-market policies that stimulate continued investment and for policies that make wearables accessible to patients who need them is critical to ensuring all Americans can participate in the wireless wearables healthcare revolution.

$30B

invested each year to build and enhance America’s wireless networks