Verizon, Ericsson and MediaTek have completed data and Voice over New Radio (VoNR) tests over Verizon’s 5G Standalone (SA) network using Ericsson’s new RedCap software with ‘NR light functionality’ and MediaTek’s RedCap testing platform. A press release says the new technology provides a path for lower-complexity and lower-cost NR devices such as consumer wearables, fitness trackers and mobile medical devices, and also paves the way for enterprise IoT solutions like video surveillance, industrial sensors, and smart grids to run more efficiently on Verizon’s 5G network. These devices, many of which have audio functions requiring voice connections, typically transmit and receive smaller amounts of data than smartphones, wireless routers or more robust enterprise solutions. Using the new software and light chipset, engineers have successfully demonstrated more efficient paths for these and future low-cost, low-power devices to run over the Verizon network, which can lead to the development and deployment of smaller, lighter, lower complexity devices with longer battery lives.
Adam Koeppe, SVP of Network and Technology Planning at Verizon, said: ‘The evolution of this new light software coupled with the technologies deployed throughout our 5G network will allow us to provide the best possible experience for our customers in an efficient manner and will drive the 5G ecosystem with low-cost, energy-efficient devices.’ Graham Osborne of Ericsson North America added: ‘Pioneering both data and VoNR calls on both low and mid bands on Verizon’s 5G Standalone network demonstrates the capability of Ericsson RedCap as a software to boost a whole new range of use cases for both consumers and enterprises.’
The trials used ‘C-band’ TDD spectrum plus 850MHz FDD spectrum in Verizon’s production network employing its 5G SA core.
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