RedCap (Reduced Capability) is a variation of 5G technology that caters to mid-tier use cases that do not require the full capabilities of regular 5G devices. RedCap is a new device platform that was introduced in 3GPP Release 17, also known as NR-Light.
RedCap devices are less complex, less costly, and more power efficient than conventional 5G devices, such as smartphones. They can support up to 150 Mbps in the downlink and 50 Mbps in the uplink, with narrower bandwidths, lower-order modulation, lower transmit power, and fewer antennas than regular 5G devices.
Some of the practical use cases of RedCap are:
• Smart agriculture: RedCap can be used to monitor and control various aspects of crop growth and yield, such as soil moisture, temperature, humidity, irrigation, fertilization, and pest management. RedCap devices can provide long-range and low-power connectivity for sensors and actuators in the fields.
• Smart city: RedCap can be used to collect and analyze data from various urban infrastructures, such as street lights, parking meters, traffic lights, waste bins, and air quality sensors. RedCap devices can enable smart services, such as smart metering, smart lighting, smart parking, and smart waste management.
• Smart health: RedCap can be used to track and monitor the location and status of patients, medical staff, and equipment in hospitals and clinics. RedCap devices can also enable remote patient monitoring, telemedicine, and wearable devices that measure vital signs and activity levels.
• Smart industry: RedCap can be used to optimize industrial processes, such as production, logistics, maintenance, and quality control. RedCap devices can also enable asset tracking, inventory management, machine-to-machine communication, and predictive analytics.