Mohan Raju, Vice President and Vertical Head – IoT, Jio Platforms and ICT Technology Enthusiast

The advent of 5G new radio (NR), enhanced mobile broadband, massive machine type communication and ultra­-reliable low latency communication has created the need to support use cases requiring lower latency, higher peak data rates and ultra-reliability beyond 4G networks. The industry needed to address capability gaps that were underserved in the existing 3rd Generation Partnership Project Release 16 5G specifications. As a result, it presented several proposals for internet of things (IoT)-focused use cases to be studied under 5G and termed it NR-Lite – now known as reduced capability (RedCap).

5G RedCap, the lighter version of 5G, is designed not only for low latency applications but also for use cases that require moderate data throughput, particularly those currently served by LTE Cat 4 devices. RedCap can help in significantly scaling up IoT deployments due to its low energy consumption with extended battery life, which, in turn, enables the deployment of various use cases. 5G RedCap devices with low energy consumption are the perfect replacement for existing LTE-M, narrowband IoT devices.

Research and field testing are under way for rolling out the second iteration of the RedCap standard –  enhanced RedCap (eRedCap) – which will further reduce device complexity and unlock a significant market for IoT devices, particularly for original equipment manufacturers that currently use, or plan to use, LTE Cat 1 and Cat 1 bis devices. These LTE categor­ies serve a substantial pool of IoT applications, representing a greater market opportunity than 5G RedCap. Over the next five years, approximately 56 million modules, or 71 per cent of all RedCap modules, are due to be eRedCap, while 23 million, or 29 per cent of the RedCap modules, will be based on 5G RedCap (R17).

Need for RedCap

The need for RedCap arises from several key factors, including:

  • RedCap offers a seamless migration path from 4G to 5G.
  • It bridges the gap between 4G IoT and 5G NR technologies.
  • It supports extended longevity and more efficient utilisation of 5G spectrum.
  • RedCap supports a wide range of use cases, including industrial wireless sensors, video surveillance, wearables and smart grid applications for better latency, reliability and battery life through cost-effective devices.
  • Its technical capabilities are less complex than 5G smartphones, hence there will be a reduction in complex modems and RF design.
  • RedCap devices enable efficient usage of bandwidth, proving advantageous in large IoT deployments by avoiding overloading the system.
  • It offers wide network coverage, helping bridge the connectivity gap across rural, remote and urban IoT deployments.

Global adoption of RedCap

According to a recent market study, the 5G RedCap standard and extended variants (RedCap and eRedCap) are expected to account for 30.17 per cent of all cellular IoT connections by 2030. 5G RedCap trials and demonstrations are expected to gain pace, and some global commercial launches are expected by 2025-26.

The transition from LTE Cat 1 or Cat 4 to 5G RedCap (5G NR-Lite) depends on factors like application lifespan and deployment region. With RedCap at its nascent stage currently, it will take quite some time before this is available globally.

Adoption of RedCap in India

The potential for RedCap in India is enormous due to the rapid expansion of 5G networks and the emphasis on initiating major digital transformations by both the private and government sectors.

Currently, in India (as is the case globally), a fully developed RedCap device ecosystem is not available. As a result, specific use cases for 5G RedCap deployment remain largely unexplored. Once the device ecosystem is developed, it is expected to enable large-scale enterprise deployments and projects.

With a strong focus on making India an electronic manufacturing ecosystem, encompassing semiconductor chips, network modules, display systems, etc., the potential for RedCap growth over the next five years looks promising, further strengthening the country’s IoT ecosystem. The low cost of 5G RedCap devices, the scaling up of enterprise-level IoT deployments and various digital transformation initiatives serve as key growth drivers for the evolution and expansion of the 5G RedCap ecosystem in India.

(The views expressed in this article are the personal views of the author.)