Industrial communications
5G communications for industrial devices, designed for requirements between broadband connectivity and low-power IoT
Discuss the technology
5G RedCap — Reduced Capability, also known as NR-Light — targets the space between full-capability 5G broadband devices and low-power, low-data-rate IoT. It provides a communications foundation for applications with moderate throughput needs where device complexity, energy use and cost matter.
The Intelliport IPS-231 and IPS-239 router families offer different mobile communications variants to suit industrial requirements. Using 5G RedCap starts with selecting the right device variant and an available network service.
RedCap advantages
RedCap provides 5G connectivity for moderate industrial data requirements. It enables higher data rates than LTE Cat-1, while LTE Cat-4 offers a comparable nominal downlink rate. Full-capability 5G also serves bandwidth-intensive applications.
Reduced radio capabilities and power-saving operation help enable lower-power endpoints than full 5G, including battery-operated devices. Any advantage over LTE depends on the category, device and traffic profile being compared.
RedCap makes 5G available through a simpler radio design than full 5G. Moderate complexity combined with 5G capabilities addresses smaller IoT endpoints; the difference from LTE depends on the specific device category.
A simpler device design than full 5G can support cost-effective IoT deployments at scale. RedCap offers an alternative for requirements between lower-capability LTE devices and full 5G; actual costs depend on the device, network service and operations together.
Design considerations
Meter readings, control messages and video streams have different bandwidth needs. We select the technology around the actual traffic profile.
The reduced capability set of RedCap enables simpler device designs than full 5G. Operating modes and traffic also determine system power consumption.
Site coverage, operator RedCap support, security requirements and remote device management together determine suitability.
Technology selection
Includes multiple device and network categories. A comparison needs to consider the specific LTE variant and the network at the site.
Moderate throughput requirements and reduced device complexity within a 5G environment. It does not imply greater speed than every LTE variant or lower power use in every situation.
Can also serve applications with higher throughput requirements. We assess that capability alongside device and network complexity and project cost.
Technical comparison
Data rates are theoretical downlink peaks, not guaranteed operating speeds. The table compares the radio configurations shown: FR1 and two receive antennas for RedCap. Actual values depend on device variant, frequency band and network; the 5G figure of 20 Gbps is a technology peak target, not the data rate of IPS routers.
On narrow screens, scroll the table horizontally
| Aspect | LTE Cat 1 | LTE Cat 4 | 5G RedCap | 5G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bitrate | Up to 10 Mbps | Up to 150 Mbps | Up to 150 Mbps | Up to 20 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 20 MHz | 20 MHz | Up to 20 MHz | Up to 100 MHz (sub-6 GHz) / 400 MHz (mmWave) |
| Number of antennas | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4+ |
Application profiles
A qualitative comparison between high-performance mission-critical IoT and lower-complexity massive IoT. Marks show relative levels, not numerical measurements; lower latency is shown with a lower level.
with TSN, URLLC, and precise positioning
eMTC, NB-IoT
Applications
Connecting electricity-network field devices and transmitting measurement and monitoring information.
MV/LV substation digitalisationConnectivity for automation systems and field equipment, aligned with local interfaces, response times and availability requirements.
Camera connectivity assessed against image quality, traffic and available network capacity.
Transmitting measurement and status data from distributed industrial sensors, with communications selected around reporting intervals and power supply.
Connecting utility meters, environmental sensors and other municipal equipment to central systems.
Smart metering and remote readingConnecting machines and devices in flexible manufacturing environments, collecting production data and tracking processes.
Devices and platforms
Technical discussion
We select the technology and device variant around traffic, the site network and operating conditions.
