30 September 2025 – Abu Dhabi
e& UAE, the flagship telecom arm of e&, has announced the successful activation of Reduced Capability (RedCap) on its 5G Standalone (5GSA) network, marking a major step toward expanding the 5G ecosystem in the UAE. The milestone was showcased through the country’s **first live RedCap use case—a smartwatch—**highlighting the technology’s ability to deliver seamless connectivity, extended battery life, and robust security for consumers.
RedCap is a streamlined 5G technology designed to optimize device performance for mid-tier IoT applications. By enabling efficient, cost-effective, and scalable IoT connectivity, RedCap broadens opportunities beyond enhanced mobile broadband, opening new monetization pathways across consumer and enterprise markets.
Abdulrahman Al Humaidan, Senior Vice President of Access Network Development at e& UAE, stated: “This smartwatch launch showcases the power of RedCap on our secure 5GSA network. Beyond wearables, our network is fully equipped to enable industrial use cases, driving secure and innovative solutions across the UAE.”
The technology positions RedCap as a key enabler for industrial IoT, supporting business-critical applications in manufacturing, logistics, utilities, and smart cities. Leveraging the security and performance capabilities of e&’s 5GSA network—including network slicing and advanced encryption—RedCap ensures compatibility across time division duplex (TDD) spectrum while delivering deterministic performance.
e& UAE has also introduced a certification program for RedCap devices to ensure reliability, security, and performance. The company plans to expand adoption across wearables and industrial deployments, while preparing for the evolution toward 5G-Advanced capabilities.
By implementing RedCap, e& UAE is reinforcing its leadership in 5G innovation and IoT readiness, aligning with national goals to power digital transformation and industry 4.0 across the UAE.
