SK Telecom has developed redcap (reduced capability) 5G IoT technology verified in a commercial pilot network for the first time in Korea.

Redcap is an IoT service support technology that upgrades the 5G network and reduces the number of antennas and bandwidth terminals to lower the cost of the terminal itself and reduce power consumption.

The network to which redcap technology is applied has the advantages of low power consumption and the massive connectivity of existing 5G, making it suitable for IoT devices such as wearables, connected cars, smart factories and CCTVs that need to be connected to the network at all times.

Through close cooperation with Nokia and MediaTek, SKT completed the development of commercial frequency band-based 5G IoT redcap technology and field tests of commercial pilot networks at the test bed in Bundang.

Through this demonstration, SKT confirmed it can effectively reduce power consumption by optimising the bandwidth and number of antennas of a terminal.

The development and demonstration of redcap technology is significant in that the telco has secured the core technology necessary for SKT’s 6G and AI technology evolution, and has laid the technical foundation for AIoT services that combine artificial intelligence and IoT in the future.

SKT says it plans to develop various services through cooperation with domestic and foreign operators and manufacturers so AIoT can be used in various fields. In addition to this redcap development, SKT (www.sktelecom.com) is involved in the global standardisation of 5G-Advanced and 6G by contributing and presenting to 3GPP and the NGMN operator alliance.

“We are preparing for 6G future networks,” said Ryu Tak-gi, in charge of infrastructure technology at SKT. “SKT has prepared infrastructure-based technology for 5G IoT service by developing and verifying 5G IoT technology redcap for the first time in Korea. We will contribute to technology development and ecosystem expansion for 6G evolution.”