Nokia and du successfully conclude UAE's first 5G-Advanced RedCap trial

Nokia and du have completed the UAE's first 5G-Advanced 5G Reduced Capability (RedCap) trial over a commercial network, demonstrating the latter's readiness to trial innovative use cases that could unlock new revenue opportunities in the Internet of Things (IoT) and Industry 4.0.

By leveraging the existing mid-band Spectrum, two partners trialled MediaTek's T300 series RedCap test equipment in du's 5G Standalone (SA) Radio Access Network (RAN) built with Nokia's AirScale radio products.

Commenting on this development, Saleem Alblooshi, Chief Technology Officer at du, said, "This collaboration introduces the revolutionary 5G-Advanced RedCap functionalities, enabling seamless connectivity of RedCap devices to cutting-edge 5G networks. Nokia's unparalleled innovation simplifies and pioneers the development of 5G devices, particularly wearables and small IoT devices, significantly enhancing LTE-CAT4 performance and optimizing energy efficiency. These remarkable technological advancements are pivotal in propelling the Industry 4.0 revolution."

RedCap is a technology dedicated to streamlining 5G devices, specifically targeting compact IoT devices like wearables and health trackers, ruggedized routers and industrial sensors, which exhibit lower demands for battery life and reduced bandwidth requirements. The software solution improves the performance of these devices while optimizing their power efficiency. RedCap devices are expected to be commercially available from 2024.

RedCap will significantly augment du's diversified use case portfolio to include cost-efficient 5G home wireless, wearables, video surveillance, and wireless industrial sensors.

Mikko Lavanti, Senior Vice President at Nokia MEA, said, "This new collaboration between du and Nokia represents not only a significant step forward in the monetization of 5G technology but also solidifies the UAE's position as a pioneer in the evolution of 5G use cases for society and enterprises. As the collaboration progresses, both companies are poised to revolutionize the way we experience and interact with 5G technology, unlocking unprecedented possibilities for innovation and connectivity."