Vodafone has carried out a successful pilot test to test the capabilities of 5G RedCap technology. This facilitates connectivity for devices simpler than smartphones, such as smartwatches and devices connected to the Internet of Things.
This technology allows a wide range of devices to connect to 5G networks efficiently, with low consumption and at a lower cost. RedCap technology, also known as New Radio Light (NR-Light), is the best 5G for these less complex devices, which can be smaller, cheaper and have longer battery life compared to traditional devices that use broadband mobile.
Pilot test with 5G data RAN Reduced Capability
Vodafone, together with Ericsson and Qualcomm, have made the first reduced capacity 5G data call in Europe. With the success of this pilot test carried out in Spain, the potential rise of low-power, low-bandwidth connected devices can be evaluated, from the business Internet of Things sector to consumer applications.
This test is the first test of RAN Reduced Capability (RedCap) data on a European network. This technology lays the foundation for most Internet of Things (IoT) and other connected devices to transmit data more efficiently and easily.
This experiment has been carried out in Vodafone Spain’s 5G test network “CREATE” (Ciudad Real España Advanced Testing Environment) and has been a complete success. The technology known as Redcap allows you to enable connectivity to the 5G network for simpler devices such as smartwatches and smart home network devices such as smart water meters. This allows more devices to be connected to 5G networks and transmit with lower consumption and lower cost.
Thanks to New Radio Light (NR-Light) technology, it is possible to operate with smaller, cheaper devices with longer battery life than traditional devices that use mobile broadband. Qualcomm’s contribution is that the Snapdragon and low consumption. The introduction of commercial devices based on Snapdragon is planned for 2024.
One step ahead of Vodafone
In the absence of Vodafone’s adoption of 5G SA in Spain, the red operator is moving into another field of experimentation with the capabilities of the fifth generation of mobile networks. RedCap will contribute to the development of more efficient procedures to optimize device power consumption and enable portable devices that are currently only available with LTE connectivity.
“These tests have marked a turning point for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), network operators and users, as it marks a clear path towards new devices and commercial use cases. The use of commercial 5G networks for lower bandwidth applications is an important milestone, not only because it offers the possibility of switching to low-power 5G devices, but also builds on the current and future benefits offered by 5G SA. We will continue to work with customers, industry and our partners to accelerate the creation of 5G devices that imply new and exciting use cases for companies and users,” explained Dino Flore, Vice President of Technology at Qualcomm Europe.
“Vodafone is a technology company capable of constantly evolving and improving its network, being pioneers in testing the latest technologies. We are honored that our exclusive multi-vendor 5G network, CREATE, was able to host and validate such an innovative test in collaboration with Qualcomm and Ericsson. The results show that, in the future, networks will be able to support many more energy-efficient connected devices,” said Francisco Martín, director of Open RAN at Vodafone.
“We are delighted to collaborate with Vodafone and Qualcomm to deliver the first reduced capacity 5G data call in Europe. 5G RedCap opens the door to new use cases for both the enterprise and consumer segments, as well as the industrial sector, lower-cost 5G routers and wearables. “Ericsson is taking new paths to fully realize the value of 5G services and this joint trial shows that support for RedCap is gaining momentum in the market,” said Isidro Nieto, Director of Technology Networks at Ericsson.
