Is It Time to Move from LTE to RedCap? 5G SA Networks and Device Certifications Have Aligned

Author: Bob Lai

Intro

Here’s the uncomfortable truth facing Internet of Things (IoT) deployments today: LTE solutions work fine. The performance is adequate. The devices are proven. The problem? You’re building on a foundation with an expiration date. 

With carriers actively investing in 5G Standalone (SA) infrastructure while maintaining costly legacy networks, the LTE sunset isn’t a question of “if” but “when.” Deploy an industrial sensor or video surveillance system today with LTE, and you’re betting that the network will still exist in 2035 if that device is still operational. That’s a risky bet. 

Enter 5G RedCap (Reduced Capability)—not as a performance upgrade, but as a lifeline. RedCap delivers the mid-tier performance that’s already working well in LTE deployments, plus something even more valuable: 5G longevity 

But here’s the real question that’s kept IoT decision-makers cautious: Is the infrastructure actually ready? Can enterprises confidently transition from LTE to RedCap today, or is this still a technology waiting for its moment? 

Featured Excerpt

"Why RedCap Matters for IoT

Introduced in 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Release 17, RedCap bridges the critical gap between low-power Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) technologies like Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and LTE-M, and full-performance 5G devices designed for premium, high-bandwidth applications. 

• Optimal Performance Balance: RedCap provides peak data rates in the 230Mbps range —more than adequate for mid-speed applications like video surveillance at reasonable resolutions or transmitting data from industrial sensors, while reducing both complexity and cost. 
• Power Efficiency: The technology delivers up to 65% reduction in power consumption compared to traditional LTE Cat-4 modules, extending battery life for devices deployed in the field. 
• Cost-Effective 5G Migration: Compared to standard 5G enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) devices, RedCap uses fewer antennas, reduced hardware requirements, and simplified capabilities (no carrier aggregation), achieving lower total cost of ownership while maintaining the performance IoT applications actually need. 
• Future-Proof Architecture: Unlike LTE networks facing an uncertain sunset timeline, RedCap is built on 5G SA architecture, ensuring long-term viability and access to advanced features like network slicing and edge computing.              

5G device types in 3GPP Rel 18: balancing capability and cost for diverse IoT and connectivity applications

For applications spanning industrial automation, healthcare monitoring, smart cities, retail systems, and video surveillance, RedCap delivers enough performance to handle real-time data and video streams without unnecessary overhead.

When 5G SA Networks and Certified Devices Align 

Two fundamental requirements must be met for a new cellular technology to move from lab curiosity to production workhorse: infrastructure readiness and device availability. 

2025 has marked a turning point as both the network foundation and the device ecosystem have aligned. 

RedCap Infrastructure Readiness: The 5G SA Foundation Is Here 

RedCap isn’t just a software update—it requires 5G (SA) architecture. Unlike earlier “Non-Standalone” 5G that piggybacked on 4G LTE infrastructure, 5G SA represents a complete network redesign with a cloud-native core purpose-built for next-generation services. And after years of gradual rollouts, 5G SA networks have reached critical mass. 

North America Leads the Charge 

All three major U.S. carriers now support 5G SA networks with RedCap capability: 

• AT&T recently completed its nationwide 5G SA deployment and expanded its 5G RedCap network to reach over 200 million points of presence nationwide.  
• T-Mobile launched the world’s first nationwide 5G SA network. The carrier’s T-Priority service demonstrates 5G SA’s network slicing capabilities in commercial operation. 
• Verizon launched its nationwide Frontline Network Slice for first responders in mid-2025, demonstrating 5G SA capability coast-to-coast. 

Global Momentum Accelerates 

Beyond North America, the 5G SA ecosystem is expanding rapidly. According to the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA), 73 operators across 39 countries have launched commercial 5G SA networks as of April 2025, with another 163 operators across 65 countries actively investing in the technology. 

Europe has overtaken Asia-Pacific in commercial 5G SA launches, driven by increased operator activity across the region. Countries including France, Romania, Switzerland, Estonia, and Latvia have all introduced 5G SA services in 2025. 

The GSA also reports that 30 operators across 21 countries are specifically investing in RedCap as of April 2025.

“2025 marks the first-time hardware and network ecosystems are aligned on RedCap.”    Alexander Thompson, Senior Analyst for IoT at Omdia. 

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