Modules
5G RedCap is a reduced-capability 5G standard designed for mid-tier IoT devices that don’t require full 5G performance. Standardized in 3GPP Release 17, it delivers higher throughput than LTE Cat 4 while consuming less power. Its two-antenna design keeps hardware complexity in line with Cat 4 devices today. RedCap also opens up access to less congested 5G spectrum bands, improving connection quality in the field.
Plan Your Migration to 5G
Where RedCap Fits for Mid-Tier IoT
Many IoT devices in production today rely on LTE Cat 4 for mid-speed connectivity. As 5G Standalone (SA) networks go live and the 4G-to-5G horizon comes into focus, RedCap offers a native 5G path forward without the cost and complexity of full 5G modules.
Devices built on RedCap run on the 5G Standalone core. This provides longer network support timelines and positions products for a longer operational lifecycle. However, SA network readiness varies by region, and that timeline looks different depending on where your devices will be deployed.
What This Panel Covers
In this IoT Days Spring panel, experts from Telit Cinterion, floLIVE and KYOCERA AVX walk through the current state of RedCap deployment, including SA network readiness across regions and the role of LTE fallback during the transition.
Adopting RedCap comes at a higher cost than Cat 4, and antenna designs must account for 5G’s wider frequency bands. This panel breaks down the practical tradeoffs of adopting RedCap and what they mean for product planning.
They also discuss:
- Antenna design considerations for 5G’s wider frequency bands
- The cost tradeoffs of adopting RedCap versus staying on LTE Cat 4
- What eRedCap in Release 18 could bring for even lower-power 5G IoT devices
