Designing for Longevity: A 5G RedCap Connectivity Guide for Industrial OEMs 

For industrial OEMs, connectivity is a long-term infrastructure decision, not a feature. Devices deployed today in smart metering, grid monitoring, and industrial control environments are expected to operate for 10 to 20 years. Yet the cellular networks they depend on are actively evolving, with operators refarming 4G spectrum to support 5G Standalone architectures.  

This whitepaper examines how 5G Reduced Capability (5G RedCap) has emerged as a purpose-built solution for this challenge: a mid-tier connectivity standard that delivers native 5G longevity and ecosystem support without the cost, power, and complexity of full broadband 5G. It explores the strategic and technical considerations OEMs face when evaluating connectivity for long-lived industrial IoT deployments; and how to align those decisions with both current operational needs and the long-term direction of cellular networks. 

Why Read This White Paper?

• Why 5G RedCap is the right mid-tier connectivity choice for industrial devices designed to last 10–20 years

• How embedded modules and external modems enable different 5G RedCap adoption paths for new and existing equipment

• What to evaluate when selecting a connectivity strategy: performance, power, lifecycle risk, and time-to-market