Key Network Test Methodologies That Support 5G RedCap Success

5G RedCap (Reduced Capability) technology is emerging as a prime enabler of the next wave of IoT innovation, powering devices that require only reliable connectivity rather than blazing-fast speeds or high data volumes.

Introduced in 3GPP Release 17, 5G RedCap provides a cost-effective alternative to full 5G, with an optimized design that lowers 5G New Radio (NR) module costs by 80% and reduces power consumption by over 30%.

We estimate that more than 40 percent of operators that have upgraded or are planning to upgrade to 5G Standalone (SA) are investing in 5G RedCap, integrating the technology into networks to expand IoT portfolio offerings into markets like smart wearables, industrial sensors, smart meters, and connected healthcare devices.

5G RedCap use cases have operators seeing green

Leading operators, including China Mobile, T-Mobile, Telefónica, AT&T, and Verizon, have announced 5G RedCap trials and early deployments, focusing on industries that include smart cities, manufacturing, and logistics.

China leads the pack of over 15 countries trialing or implementing 5G RedCap, with three of its largest operators already deploying the first wave of devices, including dongles and terminals for IoT sensor aggregation.

Globally, 5G RedCap has the potential to transform a range of markets and applications, introducing new monetization opportunities across use cases like:

• Smart meters for real-time monitoring of electricity, gas, and water consumption

• Smart cities to power traffic management systems and environmental monitoring

• Wearables like smartwatches and health monitoring devices, which require efficient, low-power connectivity

• Industrial IoT with factories deploying sensors for predictive maintenance and production optimization

• Logistics and asset tracking as GPS-enabled devices provide real-time tracking of goods and assets

• Fixed wireless access to provide low-cost, low-bandwidth basic internet for backup solutions and underserved areas

• Drones, for precise navigational and functional remote controls

A burgeoning device ecosystem debuts new possibilities

Some analysts estimate that 5G RedCap devices will outnumber 5G smartphones in the next three years as a continuous stream of commercially available devices and modules from vendors, including Quectel, Fibocom, TCL, and Huawei, establish and expand a thriving ecosystem.

Enhanced standards, like 3GPP Release 18’s 5G Enhanced RedCap (eRedCap), will offer further cost reductions and capabilities that will drive new innovation and stimulate greater adoption.

5G RedCap’s potential relies on proper testing

5G SA networks are an important 5G RedCap enabler, providing advanced features such as dynamic spectrum sharing, network slicing, and ultra-low latency that are essential for efficiently managing diverse 5G RedCap device requirements. For example, network slicing allows operators to allocate specific resources for 5G RedCap devices, ensuring consistent performance even in high-density environments.

But introducing 5G RedCap devices into networks can create new challenges in the operational 5G Core network due to unique traffic characteristics and the need to optimize for low power, low bandwidth, and cost-efficient operation. These challenges include:

• Increased signaling loads and congestion, especially in locations with high device density

• Scalability challenges in core functions, like the 5G Core Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF)

• Resource allocation conflicts with other devices connected to the network

• Incompatibility with advanced 5G features, such as network slicing and traditional capabilities like SMS messaging

• Security vulnerabilities leading to largescale denial of service (DoS) attacks

While 5G RedCap device testing is vital, thorough network testing is the only way to ensure network challenges don’t impact service. These essential network testing methodologies are just as critical to the success of 5G RedCap in real-world deployments and include:

1. Performance under load. Real-world conditions are emulated with high device density to ensure 5G RedCap can coexist with full-capability 5G and legacy LTE devices, without causing network congestion or service degradation.

2. Emulation of millions of devices. Testing frameworks emulate millions of 5G RedCap devices to verify the network's ability to handle large-scale deployment capacities and ensure seamless scaling.

3. Flexible traffic modeling. Diverse traffic patterns are simulated to reflect real-world behaviors, including data bursts, low-latency applications, and periodic IoT transmissions.

4. Coexistence testing. Smartphones and other full-capability devices are emulated alongside 5G RedCap devices to validate seamless coexistence and shared resource optimization.

5. Simulation of signaling storms. IoT-specific behaviors, such as simultaneous network reattachment (e.g., after power outages), are modeled to test the network’s resilience under high signaling loads.

6. Network compatibility. Seamless integration with advanced 5G features, such as network slicing and QoS prioritization, is validated.

7. Support for 5G RedCap SMS. Ensure 5G RedCap devices reliably support SMS, a critical feature for communication and alerts.

8. Robust network security testing. 5G RedCap devices securely interoperate with the 5G system through authentication testing, encryption validation, DoS and flooding testing, network slice security testing, and regulatory compliance testing, including SCAS.

Get ready to unleash 5G RedCap’s value

5G RedCap brings affordable connectivity to smart grid, smart city, and smart manufacturing applications, while opening the door to new consumer electronics, wearable devices, and eHealth market opportunities. Testing is an essential component of the 5G RedCap economic equation to ensure successful deployments.

Spirent's Landslide 5G Core network test solution helps network operators test and validate 5G RedCap in networks. Emulating millions of 5G RedCap devices and their associated traffic patterns, Landslide provides a robust platform to assess network performance, scalability, and security under real-world conditions. It supports flexible traffic modeling to simulate how diverse 5G RedCap use cases like wearables, industrial IoT, and smart meters, will perform alongside traditional 5G devices.

By emulating signaling storms and surges, and mixed device coexistence, Landslide ensures networks can handle the unique behaviors and high-density deployments of 5G RedCap without degrading service quality. It also validates critical features like network slicing, QoS prioritization, and 5G RedCap SMS capabilities, ensuring seamless integration with advanced 5G Core functionalities.

With its comprehensive test, emulation, and automation capabilities, Landslide empowers operators to identify and address potential bottlenecks or vulnerabilities, accelerating 5G RedCap adoption while ensuring a secure, scalable, and reliable network.

Learn more about Spirent Landslide and how it ensures the network is ready to unleash the value of 5G RedCap.