The RedCap Rx255C Module Series from Quectel will aid in extending the reach of 5G into more IoT applications and industry verticals.
The Snapdragon X35 5G modem-RF device from Qualcomm is the foundation of the Rx255C line of 5G NR Reduced Capability (RedCap) modules introduced by Quectel. The wireless modules enable significant size, energy, and cost-effectiveness optimization while delivering low-latency 5G connection.
Wireless devices that don’t need the full capabilities of 5G NR are addressed by the RedCap specification, which was added to 3GPP 5G NR Version 17. A range of new business sectors and mobile broadband scenarios, including entry-level internet, compute, industrial automation, smart cities, smart energy, and smart wearables, will benefit from the reach of 5G technology made possible by RedCap devices.
The sub-6 GHz frequency band is supported by Rx255C modules in 5G standalone (SA) mode with a maximum bandwidth of 20 MHz. The series supports nearly all of the major carriers globally and is backward-compatible with LTE networks. Theoretically, modules may transmit data at a peak rate of about 220 Mbps downlink and 100 Mbps uplink.
Customers can vary the number of antennas, reduce the transmitting and receiving bandwidth, and choose an optional 64QAM/256QAM modulation to reduce the cost and size of the Rx255C modules. It is possible to use a broad variety of interfaces, such as PCIe 2.0 and USB 2.0, as well as add-on features like Voice over LTE and firmware over-the-air upgrades.
The Rx255C series was introduced by Quectel during the most recent Mobile World Congress (MWC 2023). In the first half of 2023, engineering samples of the Rx255C will be made available. At the time of this announcement, a datasheet wasn’t accessible.