Verizon used Ericsson’s new RedCap compatible software and MediaTek’s RedCap testing platform

Verizon announced the completion of data and voice (VoNR) sessions over its 5G network using Ericsson’s new RedCap-compatible software (a.k.a. the “NR light” functionality) and MediaTek’s RedCap testing platform.

RedCap, or Reduced Capability, is a specification in 3GPP Release 17, and it sits provisionally between mMTC and eMBB in the 5G NR power hierarchy. According to Verizon, RedCap allows for lower-complexity and lower-cost NR devices — think wearables, fitness trackers, video surveillance and sensors —to run more efficiently on a 5G network.

“The introduction of New Radio (NR) RedCap devices will help expand the 5G ecosystem by caring for specific use cases with more efficient resource allocation,” said Verizon in a release. “RedCap offers similar data rates to LTE enabled devices with improved latency, device energy efficiency and spectrum efficiency. This technology also has the potential to support 5G NR features such as enhanced positioning and network slicing.”

The voice and data sessions were completed over Verizon’s production network, which uses its 5G Standalone core and was supported by C-band TDD spectrum and 850 MHz FDD spectrum.

For all three companies involved — Verizon, Ericsson and MediaTek — the trials represent a step forward in driving the RedCap ecosystem, which they believe will usher in new types of 5G devices.

“The evolution of this new light software coupled with the technologies deployed throughout our 5G network will allow us to provide the best possible experience for our customers in an efficient manner and will drive the 5G ecosystem with low-cost, energy-efficient devices,” commented Adam Koeppe, SVP of Network and Technology Planning at Verizon.

As if in preparation for the trials with Verizon, Ericsson and MediaTek earlier this month performed 5G RedCap data and 5G voice calls on both frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD) spectrum bands as part of interoperability development testing (IoDT). The test involved an FDD data call, which achieved a throughput speed of 220 Mbps in the downlink and 74 Mbps for uplink, and the partners also carried out a TDD data call that reached a downlink speed of 153 Mbps and uplink speed of 13.5 Mbps.