Ericsson, CETIN and O2 Czech Republic have shown a pioneering 5G use case using the Reduced Capability (RedCap) solution with commercial devices from original equipment manufacturers (OEM) Gemtek and Four-faith. Tests in Prague highlighted RedCap's potential to broaden 5G applications across various industries.

This milestone is significant as it paves the way for more affordable and energy-efficient 5G devices. For consumers, this means better connectivity for smartwatches, AR/VR glasses, and other wearables without frequent charging. For businesses, RedCap technology offers reliable and cost-effective solutions for smart grids, industrial sensors, and video monitoring, enhancing operational efficiency and innovation.

The demo in Prague involved a RedCap-capable router and camera connected to an O2 5G base station powered by Ericsson Radio System products and solutions. The camera transmitted data over the 5G network using RedCap and displayed the results on a web dashboard. The results showed that the device also supported power saving mode, which is one of the features that reduce battery usage and extend device longevity. Another use case involved RedCap-capable equipment on customer premises (CPE) that can aggregate non-RedCap-capable devices and provide efficient connectivity.

CETIN, O2 CZ and Ericsson will continue testing commercially available RedCap-enabled devices on Cetin's network to strengthen the 5G device ecosystem. This initiative aims to prepare these devices for deploying and scaling among businesses and consumers in the Czech Republic.

Vladimír Filip, Director, Network Development, CETIN, says: "The results from our labs confirm that RedCap is a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution to connect a large number of devices at once. These features make it possible, especially in industrial sectors, to achieve lower costs in the deployment of 5G technologies and thus accelerate the introduction of new services."

Jan Hruška, CTO (Chief Technology Officer), O2 CZ, says: "We are proud to be the first service provider in the Czech Republic to demonstrate a RedCap-enabled 5G use case with a commercial device. This shows our commitment to innovation and to bringing the benefits of 5G to our customers and society. With RedCap, we can enable new 5G services for consumers and enterprises."

Dr. Sibel Tombaz, Head of Product Line Cloud & Purpose-built 5G RAN, Business Area Networks, Ericsson, says: "This RedCap demonstration exemplifies the collaborative efforts between Ericsson, CETIN, and O2 CZ in progressing 5G technology within the Czech market. RedCap, as an important part of our 5G Advanced offerings, is instrumental in extending the reach and benefits of 5G to a wider audience. We look forward to witnessing the emergence of the first RedCap-capable devices from OEM vendors and to supporting CETIN and O2 CZ in delivering RedCap-enabled 5G services. This collaboration is crucial in unlocking new opportunities for customers and partners across various sectors."

RedCap is a radio access network (RAN) software solution aimed at enhancing 5G use cases by decreasing complexity and extending the battery life of lower-cost devices such as smartwatches and industrial sensors. Examples of applications that can be addressed by RedCap include consumer wearables, low-end AR/VR glasses, video monitoring, and smart grids.

The network provider CETIN and the communications service provider O2 Czech Republic and network provider are part of PPF Telecom Group, a leading telecommunications services provider in Central and South-eastern Europe.

About CETIN
CETIN owns, operates and modernises the largest electronic communications network covering 99.6% of Czech population. We provide infrastructure services for fixed and mobile networks, data services for corporate networks and data centre rentals, and provide international voice services for both domestic and foreign providers. We are an independent wholesale player with no ties to any particular provider, our philosophy is the principle of open network access on fair terms for all operators.

About O2 Czech Republic
As the largest telecommunications operator on the Czech market and member of the PPF group, O2 CZ continues its mission to bring technology that improves people's everyday lives. The Company provides voice, internet connectivity and data services to customers ranging from households to small and medium-sized businesses to large corporations and the public sector. It is currently building a 5G mobile network, which it was also the first to commercially launch.

O2 CZ is also the largest provider of internet connectivity for households and businesses. With its O2 TV service, the Company is the largest Internet TV broadcaster in the Czech Republic. The Company is one of the biggest players in hosting and cloud services, as well as in managed services and ICT.