Ericsson has unveiled a new reduced capability (RedCap) radio access network (RAN) software that will enable new 5G use cases and enhance existing ones for an array of devices such as smartwatches, other wearables, and industrial sensors by lowering complexity and extending battery life.
Known as Ericsson RedCap, the solution will be commercially ready in November 2023 as a software addition to 5G standalone (SA) networks powered by Ericsson, with no need for any new hardware. RedCap will strengthen the ecosystem for new types of devices that can be connected to 5G networks.
An expanded new radio (NR) device ecosystem with new capabilities will in turn spur the growth of even more 5G use cases. Ericsson RedCap will support leaner procedures for optimising device energy consumption and enable wearables that are currently only available with long-term evolution (LTE) devices.
Commenting on the announcement, David Hammarwall, head of product area networks, Ericsson, said,: “Ericsson Reduced Capability will open up a new world of possibilities for new types of devices that do not require the full range of 5G’s capabilities. The RedCap software will enhance 5G connectivity for everything from consumer wearables to industrial sensors in a way that is both cost- and energy-efficient, unlocking a whole range of new use cases.”
With the new 5G RAN software solution, communications service providers can offer more connectivity options for diverse consumer and enterprise use cases and in industrial settings on the FDD (frequency division duplex) and TDD (time division duplex) spectrums.
Ericsson RedCap will support devices with reduced complexity such as low-end augmented reality (AR) wearables, video surveillance equipment, industrial sensors, and smart grids. The new solution is more energy-efficient than existing LTE low categories and it has already caught the attention of the wearable original equipment manufacturer (OEM) industry.
Meanwhile, Bill Stone, vice president for technology planning,t Verizon, said, “5G is designed fundamentally as a highly customisable service. The evolution of NR RedCap from Ericsson, coupled with the advanced technologies deployed throughout our 5G network, will serve to bring that customization to life for a variety of devices, allowing us to efficiently allocate network resources while giving customers the best possible experience on our network. We look forward to how this advancement will help evolve the 5G ecosystem.”
Ericsson is closely collaborating with leading chipset vendors to bring multiple types of 5G devices to the market. Further, HC Hwang, general manager of wireless communication systems and partnerships, MediaTek, said, “MediaTek’s upcoming solutions supporting 5G RedCap will certainly benefit from Ericsson’s infrastructure readiness, ensuring that operators, consumers and businesses can immediately benefit from the next generation of innovative 5G products and services.”
