Vendors » 5G eRedCap Chipsets: Leading Manufacturers

5G eRedCap Chipsets: Leading Manufacturers

eredcap 5g 5g nr eredcap chipset manufacturers vendors

Introduction : As the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem expands, the need for cellular connectivity that strikes a balance between cost, complexity and performance is growing. The advent of the 5G NR eRedCap (enhanced Reduced Capability) standard is precisely tailored for this requirement. The 5G NR eRedCap offers a streamlined variant of 5G that supports moderate data throughput, lower device complexity and energy efficient designs.

What is 5G eRedCap ?

The Enhanced RedCap (eRedCap) is the next evolution of RedCap, specifically the chipsets that support the 3GPP Release 18 specifications. eRedCap is designed to further reduce the cost, complexity and power consumption of RedCap devices by introducing features as follows.

A lower peak data rate (targeting ~10 Mbps).
Optional support for only a single receive antenna (1T1R), further simplifying hardware.
Reduced device bandwidth (down to 5 MHz).
Additional power-saving enhancements.

5G eRedCap Chipsets

The market for dedicated eRedCap chipsets is still emerging, but the major players who developed the initial RedCap (Rel-17) platforms have designed them to be forward compatible and support these eRedCap enhancements. Following table mentions list of the key eRedCap chipset vendors and their relevant platforms.

Chipset vendor	Key Platform	Key features
Qualcomm	Snapdragon® X35 5G Modem-RF System	The X35 was engineered from the start to support both Release 17 (RedCap) and Release 18 (eRedCap) specifications. It is a single, scalable hardware platform that can be configured to meet the different performance tiers, making it the most prominent chipset currently being designed into eRedCap modules.
MediaTek	T300 Series	The T300 is a purpose-built System-on-Chip (SoC) for RedCap. Like the X35, it is designed to be compliant with both Rel-17 and Rel-18 standards. MediaTek emphasizes its high level of integration to enable very compact and power-efficient device designs suitable for the eRedCap market.
Sequans Communications	Taurus 5G NR	Sequans focuses exclusively on cellular IoT. Their Taurus platform is specifically architected to support the full range of broadband IoT use cases, including both RedCap and the lower-cost eRedCap. They market it as a highly flexible solution for customers targeting different IoT performance points.
Unisoc	V517 Platform	Unisoc has developed the V517 platform to address the 5G RedCap market. It is designed to meet 3GPP Release 17 and is stated to be upgradeable to support Release 18 (eRedCap) functionalities, positioning it as a competitive option, particularly in the Asian markets.
Samsung	Exynos Modem Series (e.g., Exynos 5300)	Samsung’s approach is slightly different. Their powerful 5G modems, like the Exynos 5300, are fully capable of supporting eRedCap features by software limiting their performance. While not always marketed as a dedicated eRedCap chipset, they have the underlying technology and have demonstrated Rel-18 capabilities in various trials and partnerships.

Summary: eRedCap chipsets mark a pivotal evolution in the 5G connectivity hierarchy enabling a wide range of mid- and low tier IoT devices to leverage the benefits of 5G while avoiding the cost and complexity of full blown smartphone solutions.