Just recently, Samsung Electronics successfully completed a groundbreaking test of reduced-capability 5G (5G RedCap) on a private 5G network at Hyundai Motor Company’s expansive plant in Ulsan, South Korea. The tests, which proved comprehensive and successful, represent an “industry-first” in deploying RedCap for Industry 4.0. This notable accomplishment will be showcased during the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona next week.
In October 2024, Samsung established a private 5G network at Hyundai’s enormous Ulsan facility, leveraging the local 4.7GHz band allocated for private 5G usage since 2021. This factory, a global automotive production giant, manufactures approximately 6,000 vehicles daily. Hyundai strives to revolutionize this site as part of its “smart factory innovation” initiative. This move underlines the immense promise of advanced industrial private 5G connectivity, they stated.
Hyundai is the pioneering company in South Korea to integrate private 5G into mass production. Jae Min Lee, the vice president and head of the E-FOREST Center for Hyundai and Kia, remarked, “We are also the industry’s first to verify private-5G RedCap technology, reinforcing our global leadership in smart manufacturing solutions. We will continue to accelerate its commercialization.” RedCap deployment is set for Hyundai’s latest factories, expected to open in early 2026.
The company plans to employ RedCap-enabled devices in its smart factories. These include sensors, cameras, tablets, robots, and critical IoT applications that drive efficient and intelligent automation. Industrial RedCap plays a key role in enhancing cost-effective monitoring and automation.
Since early this year, Samsung has tested RedCap at the Ulsan testbed to evaluate its capabilities. The trials verified the integrated performance system, improving processes from vehicle inspection to network management. The trial also integrated Hyundai’s Diagnostic Scan (D Scan) into the 5G setup. The D Scan unit utilizing Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X35 5G system enhances scrutiny of vehicle assemblies.
Samsung has emphasized that RedCap optimizes 5G for smaller IoT devices. These improvements serve as a catalyst for widespread RedCap adoption in Industry 4.0. According to Pablo Tomasi, an analyst at Omdia, “RedCap technology will empower private 5G to be more efficient and cost-effective.” Simon Lee, from Samsung, added that RedCap allows enterprises to exploit more efficient networks.
Although trailing behind competitors like Huawei, Nokia, and Ericsson in private 5G, Samsung is committed to expanding its presence, targeting industries like healthcare, education, and military. At the Mobile World Congress, it plans to introduce a new software-centric 5G solution, featuring virtualized Radio Access Network (RAN) software, aligned with commercial server platforms.