Tel Aviv, Israel, January 6, 2026 — Sony Semiconductor Israel has outlined its long-term vision for 5G IoT connectivity, positioning eRedCap (enhanced Reduced Capability) as a core technology for the next generation of global, long-life connected devices based on its Altair platform. As artificial intelligence adoption accelerates and mobile operators prepare to retire legacy networks, the transition from 4G to 5G is reshaping the architecture of large-scale IoT deployments.
Low-Power Wide-Area (LPWA) technologies—used in applications ranging from gas and water meters to asset tracking and safety infrastructure—are designed to operate in the field for 10 to 20 years, but their throughput requirements vary widely. While traditional LPWA devices will continue to support ultra-low-power and deep-indoor use cases with minimal data transmission, applications requiring higher throughput, voice capability, or richer data streams are increasingly shifting toward eRedCap. These include industrial automation, next-generation safety systems, wearables, and a new category of AI-centric consumer devices.
“These applications demand real-time communication with higher throughput while maintaining low power consumption,” the company said, noting that eRedCap is designed to bridge this gap between legacy LPWA technologies and full-scale 5G New Radio (NR).
“The future of IoT is clearly converging around eRedCap,” said Nohik Semel, CEO of Sony Semiconductor Israel. “It delivers the performance required for tomorrow’s connected devices while preserving the efficiency and longevity industries depend on. For device makers designing products with a 10- to 20-year lifecycle, eRedCap enables a practical transition from 4G to a fully 5G world.”
A fully 5G environment, the company argues, would allow operators to simplify network operations and accelerate the retirement of 4G infrastructure. Today, many operators must maintain parallel 2G and 4G networks because large numbers of legacy IoT devices remain active in the field, while spectrum resources remain limited. eRedCap enables a gradual migration of IoT devices to 5G, freeing up spectrum, reducing operational complexity, and paving the way for eventual 4G sunset.
Built on 3GPP Release 18, eRedCap is positioned as a middle ground between advanced 5G NR and narrowband IoT. Compared with LPWA technologies, it supports higher data throughput for data-intensive applications, while maintaining lower complexity and cost than high-throughput 5G NR implementations. The standard is optimized for battery-powered devices designed for long operational lifespans.
As IoT networks evolve toward eRedCap, Half-Duplex Frequency Division Duplex (HD-FDD) is emerging as the preferred deployment option. According to Sony, HD-FDD better aligns with the design requirements of low-cost, low-power, long-life 5G IoT devices due to its simpler RF design, reduced cost, and improved power efficiency.
“The market is actively seeking competitive 5G NR solutions that enable the transition of LTE Cat-1bis and higher-category devices to native 5G networks,” said Mohit Agrawal, Research Director at Counterpoint Research. “Once commercially viable eRedCap solutions are available, we expect both carrier strategies and market demand to drive rapid adoption. We estimate the eRedCap market could exceed 50 million unit shipments by 2030.”
Agrawal added that HD-FDD’s reduced RF complexity aligns closely with eRedCap’s design goals, making it a logical duplexing choice for cost-sensitive, battery-powered devices at scale. As enterprises accelerate AI-based decision-making and analytics, real-time connectivity at the network edge is becoming increasingly critical, positioning eRedCap as foundational infrastructure for AI-driven IoT ecosystems.
As part of this long-term strategy, Sony also outlined the roadmap for its upcoming Altair ALT1550 5G eRedCap modem. The chip is currently undergoing advanced real-silicon testing and is designed to support 3GPP Release 18 eRedCap with HD-FDD optimization. It also includes 4G Cat-1bis and LTE-M support to ensure reliable deployment on existing networks, as well as seamless backward and forward compatibility.
“Our ALT1550 roadmap reflects our belief that 5G IoT must be cost-efficient, power-efficient, and built for longevity,” said Dima Feldman, Vice President of Product Management and Marketing at Sony Semiconductor Israel. “This is how we help customers transition smoothly from 4G to a sustainable 5G future.”
