SK Telecom develops 5G IoT tech RedCap

South Korea's SK Telecom Co. unveiled on Thursday that it has successfully developed and tested Reduced Capability (RedCap) - a pioneering 5G Internet of Things (IoT) technology in the country.

RedCap, described as an enhanced version of the 5G network, is specifically designed to cater to lightweight IoT services. Its notable features include a decrease in the number of antennas and bandwidth used by 5G IoT devices. Such reductions contribute to decreased device expenditures and optimized power consumption.

It is deemed ideal for a range of applications, such as wearables, connected vehicles, smart factory setups, and surveillance systems like CCTV.

Through cooperation with Nokia and MediaTek, SK Telecom completed the development of RedCap based on commercial frequency bands and a commercial test network field test.

The development and demonstration of RedCap technology have secured the core technology required for SK Telecom's 6G (6th generation mobile communication) and AI technology evolution. SK Telecom was evaluated to have established a technological foundation for AIoT services that combine AI and IoT.

Write to Seung-Woo Lee at leeswoo@hankyung.com