The German telecommunications company, O2 Telefónica, overseen by the Spanish operator, Telefónica, has announced that it is presently testing 5G Reduced Capability (RedCap) technology.
According to a statement, the company has effectively conducted trials integrating 5G RedCap devices into its operational 5G network in Munich.
Mallik Rao, Chief Technology & Information Officer of O2 Telefónica, said, "5G RedCap can bring new momentum to the Internet of Things. The technology closes a gap between the previous 4G network and high-performance 5G applications in the IoT sector. O2 Telefónica has successfully trialed the integration of 5G RedCap devices in the network. With our network, we are creating the technical prerequisites for connecting millions of devices efficiently and cost-effectively. It will be crucial to see how the market, the product world and digital applications develop."
RedCap, also known as NR-Light, is a reduced set of 5G capabilities designed for devices such as wearables and low-cost hotspots with low battery consumption, costs, and bandwidth requirements. Introduced with 3GPP Release 17, 5G RedCap is intended for devices currently served by LTE CAT-4 but offers equivalent or better performance, with up to 150 Mbps of theoretical maximum downlink throughput. This technology reduces the complexity, cost, and size of 5G devices.
The German telco also stated that its 5G network is ready to utilize 5G RedCap, which does not require dedicated antennas. O2 Telefónica also stated that it is working with module and device manufacturers to accelerate the development of this technology.
Furthermore, O2 Telefonica recently announced that it has already deployed nearly 10,000 5G base stations since launching 5G services in October 2020.
The German operator reported that it has been deploying an average of over 50 new 5G transmitters each week since the network's inception. In the previous year alone, they installed 3,000 5G base stations nationwide. The telecommunications company stated that its 5G network now covers 95% of Germany's population.
