Bridging the Gap: How 5G RedCap Solves the Industrial IoT Connectivity Challenge

As 4G sunset looms on the horizon and carriers repurpose LTE spectrum for 5G expansion, industrial and commercial IoT organizations face a critical infrastructure decision: full 5G eMBB (enhanced mobile broadband) is too costly and power-hungry for most IoT applications, yet legacy LTE networks won't support the next generation of long-life deployments. Standardized in 3GPP Release 17, 5G RedCap (Reduced Capability) solves this connectivity gap—delivering native 5G longevity and performance optimized for real-world industrial and commercial IoT requirements without the complexity and expense of full-scale 5G broadband.

• Cellular Standards Evolution from 4G LTE through 5G NSA and 5G SA
• How 5G RedCap bridges the gap between legacy LTE and full 5G with balanced performance, reduced power consumption, and lower costs
• 5G RedCap's technical architecture and comparison with LTE and other 5G technologies
• Real-world use cases across smart grid modernization, oil & gas monitoring, SCADA systems, digital signage, and smart agriculture
• Ten critical questions to guide your 5G RedCap adoption strategy