No flashy speeds, but a big step for smart gadgets everywhere.
While AT&T is preparing to shut down a service that could leave some vulnerable users disconnected, the carrier is also moving forward in a big way when it comes to expanding connectivity.
AT&T just hit a pretty huge milestone in the 5G space – and no, it’s not about lightning-fast speeds or fancy flagship phones. The carrier now has nationwide coverage for 5G RedCap, and it already reaches over 200 million Points of Presence (POPs) across the US.
So, what is RedCap? It’s basically a low-bandwidth version of 5G – also known as NR-Light – made specifically for IoT devices, wearables, sensors and other gadgets that don’t need ultra-high bandwidth but do need solid, always-on connectivity. Think smartwatches, XR glasses, fitness bands, surveillance gear – all the stuff that can benefit from a cellular connection but doesn’t need full-blown 5G.
Because it’s lighter, RedCap means lower power usage, fewer antennas and cheaper hardware.
