The Global Mobile Suppliers Association has announced the establishment of a new RedCap Special Interest Group to bring together leading telecommunications companies wishing to track, boost and promote the ecosystem for 5G RedCap network deployments, connected IoT devices, FWA devices and service launches.
5G Reduced Capability (RedCap) devices are designed to cater to Internet of Things (IoT) use cases with requirements on low device complexity and power consumption but moderate requirements on peak data rates. This technology is built upon the 5G NR (New Radio) standard and aims to offer a balanced approach to connectivity, enabling implementation and operation of cost- and energy-efficient devices for a wide range of IoT applications.
To deploy RedCap, operators must first have a 5G standalone network, making the ongoing expansion of 5G SA networks worldwide a guide to RedCap readiness. As of February 2025, GSA identified 154 operators in 63 countries investing in 5G standalone. When assessing the global status of 5G RedCap in this latest report, GSA identified 26 operators in 18 countries that are currently investing in RedCap technology, indicating the early stage of its development.
Joe Barrett, President of the Global mobile Suppliers Association, said: “5G RedCap is still in its initial stages of development and growth, particularly when it comes to compatible devices and chipsets. Nevertheless, indications of future growth for 5G RedCap are already emerging. This is why it is time for the industry ecosystem to now work together to promote, track and report on the true status of the technology and collectively expand the RedCap ecosystem globally.
“5G RedCap’s role as the bridge for mid-tier IoT applications, coupled with the clear demand for IoT connectivity providers based on LTE technologies, indicates a promising market, with significant growth expected in the medium to long term, especially as 5G New Radio continues its global expansion and the capabilities of LTE technologies diminish. RedCap can also help serving some FWA scenarios thanks to its lower cost device capabilities.”
The new GSA RedCap SIG brings together vendors from across the ecosystem to track and promote the status of RedCap products, features and mobile networks. SIG Partners and Members can promote their RedCap-enabled products via the GSA website and GAMBoD databases, while the GSA Research Team will support the work of the SIG with regular industry reports and webinars on the global status of the technology.
