MediaTek debuts RedCap modem technology and chipset family to expedite the transition to 5G-NR for consumer, enterprise, and industrial IoT applications.

Leveraging its industry expertise in 5G connectivity, MediaTek announced it is expanding its family of modems and chipsets to support 5G RedCap.

The new solutions, the M60 modem IP and the MediaTek T300 chipset series, will make it easy for MediaTek to facilitate the transition to 5G-NR for a wide range of applications that require long lasting and efficient battery life, such as wearables, light-weight AR devices, IoT modules, and devices built with edge AI in mind.

RedCap, which stands for “reduced capability,” is designed to bring the benefits of 5G to NR consumer, enterprise, and industrial devices. Taking full advantage of the evolution of 5G networks to the Standalone (SA) network architecture, RedCap promises to deliver reliability for devices that have low bandwidth requirements, offering many of the benefits of 5G without the cost and complexity of typical 5G solutions.

“Our RedCap solutions are a significant part of our mission to democratize 5G, providing our customers the ability to optimize components and deliver 5G-enabled devices from a range of applications and a range of price points,” said JC Hsu, Corporate Senior Vice President at MediaTek.

“The migration to 5G RedCap will replace legacy 4G/LTE solutions, offering significantly better power efficiency and more reliable user experiences compared to leading edge 5G eMMB modem solutions and legacy 4G LTE Cat 4 and Cat 6 devices.”

As the world’s first 6nm Radio Frequency System-On-Chip (RFSOC) single die solution for RedCap, the MediaTek T300 series is breaking new ground in the RedCap space. This RFSOC will allow brands to capitalize on the emerging RedCap market and create innovative designs for enterprise, industrial, consumer, AR, and data-card applications. Built on the highly efficient TSMC 6nm process, the MediaTek T300 series integrates a single-core Arm Cortex-A35 in a significantly more compact PCB area. The MediaTek T300 series supports up to 227 Mbps downlink and 122 Mbps uplink data rates.

Both the T300 series and the M60 5G modem IP support the 3GPP R17 standard and combine MediaTek’s industry-leading power efficiency with coverage enhancements and extremely low latency. By leveraging MediaTek’s UltraSave 4.0 technology and reducing unnecessary paging receptions, the M60 offers up to a 70% reduction in power consumption compared to similar 5G eMBB solutions and up to 75% power savings compared to 4G LTE solutions.

MediaTek’s RedCap solutions are driving a new wave of efficiency, reliability, and cost-savings for 5G-enabled devices across the consumer, enterprise, and industrial sectors to meet ever-evolving connectivity requirements and expectations. The MediaTek T300 series devices will sample in the first half of 2024, with commercial samples in the second half of 2024.

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At the Global Mobile Broadband Forum (MBBF) 2023, Huawei and its industry partners released the latest commercial RedCap achievements, demonstrating that RedCap has entered large-scale commercial use worldwide.

This marks a key milestone of the RedCap industry. Currently, more than 10 carriers from seven countries across the globe have piloted commercial RedCap. The RedCap connections are expected to exceed 100 million in the next three years, consolidating a new foundation for digital connections that drives the development of new 5G applications.

As a lightweight 5G technology, defined in 3GPP Release 17, RedCap can ensure an optimal balance between costs and performance for various industries such as manufacturing, electric power, home broadband, vehicle to everything (V2X), and smart wearables. The cost of RedCap modules (down to USD10) is 80% lower than that of 5G eMBB modules. RedCap has 10-fold higher network capacity than 4G and its devices consume 20% less power than 4G devices. It also supports key 5G capabilities such as URLLC, network slicing, edge computing, and 5G LAN to meet diversified network requirements of industry applications.

This MBBF gathers industry partners including global carriers, industry customers, and device and module vendors to discuss the network deployment, ecosystem, applications, and future development of the RedCap industry. In a keynote speech, Ding Xin, Vice President of TD Tech, shared RedCap industry insights and ecosystem progress by pointing out that RedCap defined new lightweight 5G IoT to enable massive connections and allow us to usher in a new era of cellular IoT.

A series of RedCap commercial achievements were released at the 5G Industry Summit: Huawei, together with China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom, has implemented the end-to-end commercial deployment of RedCap in more than 10 cities including Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Shenzhen, Foshan, Ningde, Jinan, and Suzhou, spanning industries like manufacturing, electric power, and V2X. They will continue to build a series of commercial RedCap benchmarks. Leading global carriers, such as e& UAE, STC Saudi Arabia, Zain KSA, STC Kuwait, Zain Kuwait, STC Bahrain, and AIS Thailand have also completed the technical verification or commercial pilot for RedCap.

The end-to-end RedCap ecosystem has matured. Huawei and its industry partners including Lierda, Aumiwalker, Hangzhou For-X, and Hongdian exhibited more than 10 products encompassing RedCap modules, DTUs and CPEs at this MBBF. It is estimated that more than 50 industry devices will have been launched by the end of 2023, accelerating the deployment of RedCap applications and scaling up of its connections.

Looking ahead, Huawei will work alongside global carriers, industry customers, and device and module vendors to promote large-scale RedCap network deployment and enrich applications, realizing a prosperous ecosystem that will inject new impetus into the development of the 5G industry and vitalize the mobile economy.

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• NR-Light or RedCap, a new class of 5G, fills the gap between high-speed mobile broadband devices and extremely low-bandwidth devices
• First generation 5G RedCap IoT modules offer worldwide coverage with LTE Cat 4 fallback and flexible form factors
• Modules integrate perfectly with Telit Cinterion connectivity and services, encompassing NExT data plans, connectivity activation, AppZone and OneEdge

Telit Cinterion, a global enabler of the intelligent edge, today announced the introduction of its first-generation 5G RedCap IoT modules, leveraging Snapdragon® X35 5G Modem-RF System, the world’s first 5G NR-Light modem-RF system.

By leveraging Snapdragon X35, Telit Cinterion offers its customers an unparalleled evolution path from mid-speed LTE to cost-effective 5G, ensuring they remain at the forefront of technological progress and can transition seamlessly to the latest technology when the time is right.

As defined by 3GPP Release 17, the 5G New Radio (NR) RedCap is a new, mid-tier 5G device class to serve ‘middle of the range’ IoT use cases. RedCap benefits from the scale of 5G NR networks, while using fewer 5G NR capabilities for an optimum balance of features versus cost and power consumption.

The new 5G RedCap modules offer efficiency and reliability and include two new compact LGA modules — the PVR81 and FE910C04 — pin-to-pin and software compatible with Telit Cinterion LTE modules, as well as the FN920C04 M.2 standard adapter card. These modules offer premium throughput of 220Mbps/100Mbps in DL/UL, surpassing LTE Cat.4 capability through higher QAM modulation. The modules ensure backward compatibility with R15/16 and LTE Cat 4 fallback, guaranteeing seamless communication and coverage.

Purpose-built to cater to a variety of industries, the new 5G RedCap IoT modules feature a rugged design, making them suitable for a wide range of demanding applications, including agricultural and construction telematics, industrial gateways, health care and security and surveillance. With the continuous expansion of IoT applications, these modules provide a future-proof solution that extends the lifecycle of LTE Cat 1 and Cat 4 modules, ensuring long-term viability and performance with compatible hardware form factors that allow customers to upgrade their devices to 5G while keeping the same hardware design. The incorporation of state-of-the-art positioning accuracy with dual-band L1/L5 high-performance embedded GNSS further enhances their capabilities.

Notably, the new 5G RedCap IoT modules simplify connectivity with an onboard eSIM ready for connectivity activation and NExT connectivity. Additionally, OneEdge and embedded processing capability enabled by AppZone ensure advanced capabilities for device management and processing.

The first-generation 5G RedCap modules come with multiple SKU options, including fully global variants on all form factors, catering to customers’ diverse requirements across the world. The 5G RedCap IoT modules, powered by Snapdragon X35, provide a solution that is not only forward-looking but also capable of adapting to the changing technological landscape. As IoT applications continue to shape industries, these modules empower businesses to embrace innovation and drive progress.

“We are excited to continue our collaboration with industry leaders such as Telit Cinterion to advance ecosystem commercialization of NR-Light globally,” said Preethika Adyanthaya, Director of Product Management, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “This announcement showcases the combined strength of Telit Cinterion’s expertise in IoT solutions and Qualcomm Technologies’ leading connectivity technology, enabling a new and wide range of use cases in various product categories.”

“Our collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies represents a significant milestone in our commitment to delivering cutting-edge IoT solutions,” said Marco Contento, VP of Product Management, Mobile Broadband, Telit Cinterion.

“The 5G RedCap modules powered by Snapdragon X35 provide a future-proof evolution path for a wide variety of IoT applications, ensuring our customers are equipped with the latest technology to drive innovation in their respective verticals.”

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Fibocom showcases the new 5G RedCap modules portfolio including the new FG131 series and FG132 series at MWC Shanghai 2023. By addressing multiple key features of 5G RedCap, the FG131 module series allows the smooth and fast transition from 4G to 5G benefiting from the form factor design, and delivering a highly cost-effective solution for CPE, ODU, mobile hot-spot, USB Dongle users.

Fibocom, a global leading provider of IoT (Internet of Things) wireless solutions and wireless communication modules, demonstrates the 5G RedCap module portfolio at MWC Shanghai 2023.

Along with the FG132 module series, the brand new FG131 series is introduced to scale up the 5G NR light deployment for use cases such as CPE, ODU, mobile hot-spot, and USB Dongle, etc.

Leveraging ubiquitous cellular coverage, optimized power-saving, and reduced complexity, 5G RedCap is gaining more and more attention within the IoT industry. The newly launched Fibocom 5G RedCap module FG131 series offers a high-performance and ultra-reliable wireless solution for application scenarios that are cost-sensitive and power-enduring. Packaged in LGA form factor at the size of 37mm*39.5mm, Fibocom FG131 is pin-compatible with Fibocom LTE Cat 6 module FG101 and FG621 series that allows smooth migration from 4G to 5G RedCap. Compliant with 3GPP Release 17, it supports 5G SA and reaches peak rates of up to 226Mbps downlink and 120Mbps uplink theoretically. With these key features combined, the Fibocom 5G RedCap module FG131 series delivers a new level of 5G network experience while maintaining high reliability and cost-effectiveness, especially for terminal devices used in mobile scenarios.

Additionally, the Fibocom FG132 series has adjusted to three form factor designs and multiple regional versions that align with customers’ requirements to accelerate the deployment of 5G RedCap worldwide. It is worth noting that these compact designs are pin-compatible with Fibocom LTE Cat 4 module NL668 and L716 series, and the dimension of FG132 (29mm*32mm in LGA form factor) account for only half the size of standard 5G module (41*44mm), significantly reducing the complexity of hardware design at the early stage of 5G RedCap adoption into terminals that shaped variously, for example, IP cameras, drones, wearable XR, etc. Moreover, the M.2 and miniPCIe form factors are the popular selections among manufacturing customers as both of them allow flexible connectivity ports while maintaining the compact size, thus making it easier for manufacturing customers to upgrade the existing LTE devices quickly without changing the hardware design. For example, industrial gateways, utility meters, etc.

“5G RedCap offers several advantages that make it particularly appealing for supporting IoT applications, and we are glad to scale up Fibocom’s RedCap portfolio with new FG131 series,” said Shawn Zhu, VP of Global Marketing, Fibocom.

“We are expecting to see RedCap gaining further prominence by providing the highly-integrated and fast-to-deploy RedCap modules across the IoT industry, ensuring IoT customers utilize all possible benefits of high-speed, reliable, power-efficient capabilities enabled by RedCap.”

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Fibocom introduces the 5G RedCap module series FG132-NA to its cellular product portfolio during Computex 2023. It is designed to offer downscaled connectivity service to mid-tier applications under the 5G landscape by bringing a realm of key advancements such as smaller compact size, optimized power efficiency and lower cost efficiency.

Fibocom, a global leading provider of IoT (Internet of Things) wireless solutions and wireless communication modules, announces the global launch of the new RedCap module series FG132-NA during Computex 2023.

Compliant with 3GPP Release 17 standard, FG132-NA series adopt the key features from 5G in both network reliability and spectrum utilization, while significantly improving the performance in energy efficiency and expanding the diversity of IoT scenarios.

5G has achieved remarkable milestones in the past few years by accelerating the digital transformation of manufacturing, private networks, online education and more use cases with its ultra-fast speed, low latency and high reliability. As technology evolves, 5G RedCap is introduced to connect the “dots” in IoT under the 5G landscape, which of them are the scenarios that require ultra-low latency and high reliability, but less bandwidth and long battery life. Therefore, RedCap is the technology tailor-made for smart grids, live streaming, industrial automation and smart wearables with its great performance in speed transmission and power efficiency, unleashing the full potential of 5G in IoT.

Fibocom FG132-NA series modules are compliant with 3GPP Release 17 standard, supporting 5G SA and are backward compatible with LTE Cat 4 networks. In terms of hardware architecture, the module series is adopting 1T2R antenna design along with LCC+LGA and M.2 form factors to satisfy the customers’ expectations in a diverse of use scenarios. The size of LCC+LGA form factor can be measured at 29*32mm, which is pin-compatible with Fibocom LTE Cat 4 modules for customers to upgrade to 5G smoothly. While the plug-and-play M.2 form factor offers a comprehensive solution for tablets and industrial gateways with a compact size at 30*42mm. By leveraging the 5G key advancements, FG132-NA supports up to 220Mbps downlink speed and 100Mbps uplink speed, as well as 5G slicing, 5G LAN, assuring the speed performance and network reliability in the daily operation of manufacturing factory, IPC, smart grids, etc.

In addition to a set of innovations, Fibocom FG132-NA also supports Open CPU with OpenWRT software, which allows customers to develop FWA applications such as CPE, Mobile hotspot, and DTU flexibly.

Jason Zhu, General Manager of MTC Product BU, Fibocom, said:

“5G RedCap is crucial to the mid-tier 5G deployments as it adapts multiple capabilities from tradition 5G while making lower power consumption and cost-ratio achievable.”

“We are thrilled to launch the FG132-NA series RedCap module at Computex, providing the ideal wireless solution for customers to expand the 5G ecosystem and driving the IoT applications toward ultra-reliable 5G connectivity at affordable price. With the rising migration from 4G to 5G, we are looking forward to unleashing the full potential of 5G in the global IoT markets with Fibocom RedCap modules.”

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