Nokia and UAE telco Du have concluded the country’s first 5G-Advanced redcap trial over a commercial network.

The trial showcased the readiness of Du’s 5G network for use cases in areas such as the IoT, wearables and Industry 4.0 to address 5G monetisation problems.

The two companies 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, leveraging the existing mid-band spectrum. This will follow extending redcap over low band frequencies, ensuring extreme coverage and connectivity.

With redcap devices expected to be commercially available from 2024, it will augment Du’s use case portfolio to include cost-efficient 5G home wireless, wearables, video surveillance and wireless industrial sensors.

5G devices commonly feature intricate hardware and energy-intensive capabilities, resulting in higher cost, size and power consumption. Redcap technology is dedicated to streamlining 5G devices, specifically targeting compact IoT devices such as wearables and health trackers, as well as ruggedised routers and sensors for environmental or condition-based monitoring. These devices exhibit lower demands for battery life and reduced bandwidth requirements. Redcap ensures they sustain performance while optimising their power efficiency. Nokia has been instrumental in driving the evolution of redcap IoT functionality in collaboration with the telecommunications industry.

“This collaboration introduces the revolutionary 5G-Advanced redcap functionalities, enabling seamless connectivity of redcap devices to cutting-edge 5G networks,” said Saleem Alblooshi, chief technology officer at Du (www.du.ae). “Nokia’s unparalleled innovation simplifies and pioneers the development of 5G devices, particularly wearables and small IoT devices, significantly enhancing LTE Cat-4 performance and optimising energy efficiency. These remarkable technological advancements are pivotal in propelling the Industry 4.0 revolution.”

Mikko Lavanti, senior vice president at Nokia (www.nokia.com), added: “This new collaboration between Du and Nokia represents not only a significant step forward in the monetisation 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 revolutionise the way we experience and interact with 5G technology, unlocking unprecedented possibilities for innovation and connectivity.”

And Ho-Chi Hwang, general manager at MediaTek (www.mediatek.com), said: “It’s essential to bring new capabilities of 5G to the UAE, and this trial is an important step in that direction. We are proud to have provided our redcap devices to further develop the ecosystem for 5G monetisation. We hope, by pioneering the technology in the Middle East and Africa, MediaTek will be able to assure our customers of more innovative 5G products and services coming their way.”

• Singtel has completed Singapore’s first trial of redcap technology on its live 5G network in collaboration with Ericsson and MediaTek.