What is 5G RedCap?

Introduction

Wireless communication is constantly upgrading itself from its prior technologies and we are even opening doors for new upgrades from this domain. The introduction of 5G and 5G NR has showcased numerous IoT and M2M applications being powered across the connected environment. However, 5G has cost constraints attached that make it less feasible for numerous IoT applications.

To cross this hurdle, 3GPP Release 17 was published with the introduction of 5G RedCap. It puts forward a perfect blend of features that can be attained while staying aligned with factors like power consumption and cost.

Now to engage more on 5G RedCap, let’s deep dive into how 5G RedCap democratizes the usage of 5G over a wide range of IoT applications.

What is 5G RedCap?

5G RedCap, short for 5G Reduced Capability, is a 5G NR technology introduced in 3GPP Release 17 to support mid-tier IoT devices with lower complexity, reduced bandwidth, fewer antennas, lower power consumption, and lower cost compared with full 5G NR devices. It is also known as 5G NR-Light.

To understand more about 5G NR and how it differs from 5G RedCap, check out our blog on 5G NR.

5G RedCap is designed to operate within 5G NR networks while reducing device complexity through narrower bandwidth, fewer antenna requirements, relaxed processing capability, and lower power consumption. This allows RedCap devices to serve mid-tier IoT applications that need more capability than LTE-M or NB-IoT, but less complexity than full 5G NR. 5G RedCap is introduced to bridge the gap between 4G and 5G. The minimum 5G requirement earlier was 100 MHz bandwidth and 4 RX antennas. This was not suited for low-cost and battery-involved LPWA . 5G RedCap is defined to power low complexity LTE and NR devices with minimum hardware requirement. It functions in the FR2 frequency range of 5G NR making a whole new band of frequencies available for current 4G devices and initiates the migration from 4G to 5G.

Key Features of 5G RedCap

5G NR reduced capability features bridging the gap between 4G LTE and 5G

• Lower Latency:

  5G RedCap offers lower latency. Depending on the use cases, it can be as low as 5 ms.

• Higher Peak Data Rate:

  5G RedCap can provide faster peak data speeds, making it suitable for applications with maximum data throughout.

• Improved Power Consumption:

  5G RedCap devices are either static or slow-moving, so reducing network monitoring activities can produce significant battery power savings.

• Bandwidth:

  RedCap uses a narrow bandwidth spectrum, 20MHz of bandwidth below 6GHz, far less than the typical 100MHz of 5G in eMBB.

• Antenna:

  5G NR RedCap has reduced the number of transmitting and receiving antennas, MIMO layers, and the capability requirements of terminal RF transceivers and baseband processing modules.

• Modulation:

  RedCap defines the modulation mode of 64QAM (quadrature amplitude modification) at the highest level in the standard, but the terminal can flexibly support 256QAM too.

• Duplex:

  5G NR RedCap adopts half-duplex FDD/ full-duplex Frequency Division Duplexing. It increases scheduling complexity as RedCap half-duplex devices do not monitor DL messages while communicating in UL.

5G RedCap Use Cases

Use cases of 5G RedCap

• Industrial IoT

  5G RedCap efficiently manages sensors and actuators in factories, machinery, pipelines, and the power grid. These Industrial IoT sensors have medium bandwidth needs and can be powered by minimal power supply sources (like batteries).

• Video Surveillance

  Video security cameras require an estimated 4Mbps for low-resolution and an average of 25Mbps for high-definition video. RedCap in 5G powers these devices operating on line power with great reliability.

• Smart Wearables

  5G RedCap devices are used in wearable technology like smartwatches, fitness trackers, location tracking, smart clothes, health sensors, and AR/VR headsets.

5G RedCap Use Cases and Specifications

5G RedCap vs LTE Cat 4

5G RedCap is not simply a direct replacement for LTE Cat 4. Instead, it provides a 5G migration path for IoT devices that need moderate data rates, better network longevity, and lower complexity than full 5G NR. LTE Cat 4 remains useful for existing 4G deployments, while 5G RedCap is better suited for future-ready IoT products built for 5G networks.

What is 5G eRedCap?

5G Enhanced RedCap (5G eRedCap) is the ongoing development to be released in 3GPP Release 18. It is believed to reduce the data bandwidth to 5MHz, lowering peak throughput to LTE Cat-1 levels or below. Within 5G standalone deployment, 5G native Redcap and eRedCap provide a migration path for use cases now handled by LTE Cat 1 to LTE Cat 4. The 5G eRedCap is planned for a 2024 introduction, with commercial availability likely by 2026. Bringing innovations to the IoT segment, 5G eRedCap modules are projected to contribute 8% to the total cellular IoT module shipments by 2030.

Comparison of 5G, 5G RedCap, and 5G eRedCap

Closing Notes

5G RedCap embarks on a revolutionary journey for mid-tier IoT solutions that fall between the mMTC, eMBB, and URLCC domains that earlier 5G Releases defined. 5G RedCap represents a breakthrough in wireless communication - supporting high bandwidth and reliable low latency connectivity. It also accelerates automation and data-driven decision-making across industries. With strong industry momentum, 5G RedCap is poised to go mainstream within the next few years, transforming the connected ecosystem.

Build Future-Ready IoT Devices with Cavli 5G RedCap Modules

Cavli’s 5G RedCap IoT modules help OEMs and enterprises design connected devices that need reliable 5G performance without the cost and complexity of full 5G NR.

These modules are ideal for industrial IoT, smart city infrastructure, video surveillance, healthcare devices, smart wearables, and connected gateways.

Explore Cavli 5G RedCap IoT Modules → 

Talk to a Connectivity Expert →