AT&T announced today that it had successfully deployed 5G RedCap in the U.S., making it the first carrier to do so. 5G RedCap is a new technology that offers a reduced set of 5G capabilities, designed for devices with low battery consumption, lower costs, and lower bandwidth requirements.
This technology is particularly well-suited for wearables and low-cost hotspots, which are becoming increasingly popular. 5G RedCap can provide equivalent or better performance than LTE CAT-4, with up to 150Mbps theoretical maximum downlink throughput. It also helps to reduce the complexity, cost, and size of 5G devices.
AT&T’s deployment of 5G RedCap is a significant milestone in the evolution of 5G technology. It will enable a wider range of devices to access 5G networks, and it will help to drive down the cost of 5G devices.
Here are some of the key benefits of 5G RedCap:
- Reduced power consumption: 5G RedCap devices can use less power than traditional 5G devices, which can extend battery life.
- Lower costs: 5G RedCap devices can be manufactured at a lower cost than traditional 5G devices, which can make them more affordable for consumers.
- Lower bandwidth requirements: 5G RedCap devices can operate with lower bandwidth requirements, which can free up bandwidth for other devices on the network.
5G RedCap is expected to be used in a variety of applications, including:
- Wearable devices: 5G RedCap can be used to power wearable devices, such as smartwatches and fitness trackers.
- Low-cost hotspots: 5G RedCap can be used to power low-cost hotspots, which can provide mobile internet access to laptops, tablets, and other devices.
- M2M (machine-to-machine) communication: 5G RedCap can be used to enable M2M communication, which is the use of wireless networks to connect devices together.
The deployment of 5G RedCap is a significant step forward for the 5G ecosystem, said AT&T. It will enable a wider range of devices to access 5G networks, and it will help to drive down the cost of 5G devices. This will make 5G more accessible to consumers and businesses, and it will help to accelerate the adoption of 5G technology.