e& UAE Becomes First Global Telecom Operator to Test eRedCap 5G-Native IoT on Live Network

ABU DHABI — e& UAE, the flagship telecommunications arm of e&, has achieved a global industry first by successfully testing enhanced Reduced Capability (eRedCap) technology across its live commercial network.

The milestone establishes a practical enterprise migration path, enabling utility providers, smart city operators, logistics firms, and industrial manufacturers to transition widely deployed Internet of Things (IoT) applications from legacy LTE networks to a simpler, energy-efficient 5G Standalone (5G-SA) native platform.

Designed to support high-density connected devices that do not require peak 5G bandwidth, eRedCap serves as a direct, cost-effective replacement for legacy LTE Cat-1 and Cat-1bis device classes. The technology is optimized for smart utility meters, industrial sensors, fleet tracking, point-of-sale terminals, security devices, and building management systems.

During the commercial field test, e& UAE integrated a Data Transmission Unit (DTU) into its live network. Utilizing a narrow 5MHz channel within the NR-FDD spectrum, the test successfully achieved throughput speeds of up to 10 Mbps on low-capability eRedCap hardware. By operating on narrower channel bandwidths, eRedCap improves device battery lifespans from 1–3 years (under standard Release 17 RedCap) to 5–10 years, matching Low-Power Wide-Area (LPWA) technology standards.

"The value of eRedCap is the ability to bring practical, everyday IoT applications into the 5G era at the right cost, power profile and coverage," Abdulrahman Al Humaidan, Senior Vice President of Access Network Development at e& UAE, said in a statement. "By proving this capability on our live commercial network, e& UAE is giving utilities, manufacturers, logistics providers, smart-city operators and other sectors a credible path to scale connected devices and prepare for the industry's long-term transition beyond LTE."

The transition allows enterprises to consolidate fragmented IoT device fleets onto a unified 5G-SA architecture. This streamlines device lifecycle management, strengthens network security, and supports the long-term refarming of LTE spectrum without requiring heavy capital investments in full-capability 5G hardware.