e& UAE has announced the successful testing of enhanced Reduced Capability (eRedCap) on its live network, in what the company says is a global first for a telecom operator.
The test is intended to support the migration of Internet of Things (IoT) applications from legacy LTE technologies to a 5G-native platform. eRedCap is designed for connected devices that do not require full 5G performance but need reliable coverage, lower power consumption and lower-cost connectivity.
According to e& UAE, the live test demonstrated throughput speeds of up to 10Mbps using 5MHz narrow bandwidth on NR-FDD spectrum. A Data Transmission Unit was integrated into the live commercial network to verify eRedCap services.
The technology is expected to support use cases such as smart utility metres, industrial sensors, asset and fleet tracking, payment terminals, building management systems, security devices and selected wearables. e& UAE said eRedCap could also improve IoT device battery life from 1–3 years under RedCap to 5–10 years, depending on the deployment.
For enterprises, the test points to a potential route for moving large-scale IoT deployments onto 5G Standalone networks while reducing dependence on older LTE Cat-1 and Cat-1bis technologies.
“The value of eRedCap is the ability to bring practical, everyday IoT applications into the 5G era at the right cost, power profile and coverage. By proving this capability on our live commercial network, e& UAE is giving utilities, manufacturers, logistics providers, smart-city operators and other sectors a credible path to scale connected devices and prepare for the industry’s long-term transition beyond LTE,” said Abdulrahman Al Humaidan, Senior Vice President, Access Network Development, e& UAE.
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