e& UAE tested enhanced RedCap, or eRedCap, on its live network for IoT & M2M use cases, and said the trial delivered throughput of up to 10 Mbps on eRedCap devices.
The operator said the test used a 5 MHz narrowband slice of 5G N FDD spectrum and integrated a data transmission unit into the live network to verify eRedCap services.
How eRedCap fits into 3GPP’s device ladder
eRedCap is a further iteration of RedCap technology standardized under 3GPP Release 17 as the 5G version of NB-IoT and LTE-M. It is part of 3GPP Release 18, with peak symmetrical data rates capped at 10 Mbps.
e& UAE also claimed it is the first telecom operator in the world to test eRedCap on a live network.
Battery life is the main technical variable in the disclosure
e& UAE said using a narrower 5 MHz channel extends device battery life from one to three years under RedCap to five to ten years under eRedCap.
That comparison is the most concrete part of the disclosure for device buyers: the operator is tying the new trial to longer battery life, not just higher headline throughput.
What this means for IoT & M2M device planners
For enterprise buyers, the disclosure points to a narrower 5G SA path for low-power connected devices. e& UAE said enterprise customers can progressively consolidate more IoT use cases on 5G SA instead of maintaining separate technology paths for 5G and LTE-based IoT.
An e& UAE executive said, Source: Developing Telecoms.