AT&T announced the nationwide rollout of its 5G Reduced Capability (RedCap) network, now reaching more than 200 million points of presence (POPs) across the U.S. The milestone strengthens AT&T’s 5G Standalone (SA) network and supports a wide range of next-generation devices that require mid-tier performance with lower power and bandwidth needs.
RedCap expands AT&T’s 5G offerings to include more cost-effective and energy-efficient device types, such as smartwatches, XR glasses, healthcare monitors, and industrial IoT sensors. By tailoring 5G capabilities for devices that don’t require high throughput, AT&T aims to unlock new enterprise and consumer use cases across logistics, asset tracking, remote monitoring, and more.
The first RedCap-certified product on AT&T’s network, the Franklin Wireless RG350 mobile hotspot, uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X35 5G Modem-RF System. AT&T is also collaborating with module suppliers including Semtech, Telit Cinterion, and Rhino Mobility to build out the RedCap device ecosystem and accelerate adoption.
What is RedCap?
- RedCap, or Reduced Capability 5G, is a streamlined version of 5G New Radio designed for devices that don’t need the full bandwidth, speed, or complexity of high-end smartphones. RedCap supports features like lower-cost modems, longer battery life, and simplified RF design—making it ideal for mid-speed IoT devices and wearables. It offers better performance and latency than LTE-based IoT technologies while avoiding the cost and energy consumption of full 5G.