e& UAE debuts 5G SA RedCap with Ericsson

Ericsson in partnership with e& United Arab Emirates (UAE), has conducted a successful end-to-end verification of the Reduced Capability (RedCap) software solution on the service provider’s 5G Standalone (5G SA) network, expanding the ecosystem for new types of devices that can be connected to 5G. This marks the first implementation of Ericsson’s RedCap solution in a commercial network in the Middle East and Africa region (MEA).

Ericsson Reduced Capability (RedCap), a radio access network (RAN) software, will allow e& UAE to introduce services beyond enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) on its 5G Standalone architecture, broadening the 5G ecosystem and offering new monetization opportunities in both the consumer and industrial spaces.

RedCap can effectively scale down the complexity, size, and capabilities of a new array of 5G Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as wearables, and industrial sensors, to enhance cost efficiency and increase battery life, while still providing sufficient data speeds.

The testing took place in e& UAE live 5G SA network, where RedCap was enabled in both frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD) spectrum. Moreover, e& UAE and Ericsson jointly developed a testing framework aimed at certifying new RedCap devices before introducing them in e& UAE’s 5G Standalone network. The next stage is to scale the RedCap implementation across e& UAE’s commercial network in line with the evolution towards 5G Advanced.

Marwan Bin Shakar, Senior Vice President Access Network Development at e& UAE, says: “e& UAE is committed to leveraging the latest technologies in the telecommunications industry to build a flagship network. As a global technology leader, Ericsson is our trusted partner in achieving our objectives. The company’s RedCap solution opens the door to a new world of possibilities, allowing us to extend our current diverse 5G connectivity options to new segments for consumers, enterprises, and industrial users.”

Ekow Nelson, Vice President and Head of Global Customer Unit for e& at Ericsson Middle East and Africa, says: “The capabilities offered by RedCap represent the next wave of evolution in seamless connectivity and interaction enabled by 5G. RedCap supports devices such as wearables, and industrial sensors and cameras with adequate speeds, and with improved spectral efficiency in more cost and energy-efficient ways. Our partnership with e& UAE in this implementation is a step in their journey towards 5G Advanced and to unlock connectivity features that will make it possible to automate, innovate and monetize 5G in entirely new ways.”

Ericsson has a long-standing partnership with e& UAE, where both companies are working closely together to deliver a state-of-the-art 5G network, allowing consumers, enterprises, and industries to reap the benefits of enriched connectivity and enhanced mobility.