How 3D geospatial data will drive 5G RedCap deployments

5G Reduced Capability (5G RedCap) will provide the foundations for massive growth in the IoT market in the coming decade. And the effective use of 3D geospatial data will make 5G RedCap rollout projects much more efficient.

Key takeaways:

• 5G RedCap deployments are poised to grow rapidly
• But 5G signals can easily be blocked
• Telco planners can use 3D geospatial data to plan deployments and avoid attenuation
• Learn how 3D geospatial data makes projects more efficient

In the coming decade, 5G RedCap is expected to become the leading connectivity technology for IoT networks. As companies install ever more Internet of Things (IoT) devices, 5G RedCap will allow them to transmit data at high speeds and low latency, at a fraction of the cost of ‘full strength’ 5G networks. 

The technology will allow companies, cities, universities, and governments to transmit data quickly and efficiently to and from IoT devices. 

Telecom providers will be able to support a fast-growing market by setting up 5G RedCap networks. However, to do so successfully, they will need to plan the infrastructure rollout meticulously. 

The opportunity of 5G RedCap

5G RedCap is expected to support the rapid expansion of IoT technologies. What makes 5G RedCap attractive is that it sits somewhere between 4G and 5G:

• It will allow IoT sensors, cameras, wearables, and other tech to transmit more data, and much faster than with existing 4G networks. 
• But it is significantly cheaper to install 5G RedCap infrastructure compared to ‘full strength’ 5G technology. 

Existing 5G networks - which are primarily designed for smartphones, computer or even autonomous vehicle connectivity - require many more antennas, higher bandwidth, more layers of massive MIMO (multiple input/multiple output), and more complex radios.

By contrast, 5G RedCap infrastructure is much ‘lighter’ - hardware requires fewer antennas and base stations, bandwidth and processing requirements are lower, and the network architecture simpler. This makes it the ideal solution for the growth of the Internet of Things. Many IoT devices will need to transmit large amounts of data, but they don’t need quite the same levels of speed as, say, 5G mmWave. 

5G RedCap is extremely well suited to things like:

• Environmental monitoring: Collect and transmit pollution data instantly and in real-time from air sensors placed around a city. 

• Surveillance: Stream video and audio from CCTV cameras at remote sites where WiFi isn’t available. 

• Renewable energy: Connect solar farms and wind turbines, and gather moment-by-moment data about performance. 

• Smart parking: Monitor the use of car parking spaces in real time. 

• Waste management: Monitor capacity in communal waste and recycling units.  

• Medical devices/wearables: Transmit data about heart rate, blood pressure, physical activity, and more directly from the wearable (rather than a connected smartphone).

Attenuation: the challenge for 5G RedCap

As with other kinds of fifth-generation mobile networks, 5G RedCap signals are susceptible to attenuation from a variety of obstacles:

• Buildings: concrete, brick, and metals absorbs radio waves such as those used in higher frequency 5G
• Vegetation: Plants contain water which absorbs radio signals, while foliage can scatter signals. 
• Bodies of water: Lakes, reservoirs, and other bodies of water can absorb higher frequency signals, or reflect radio waves causing path interference. 
• Urban density: Signals reflect off many different surfaces including buildings and vehicles, which can cause multipath propagation, signal degradation, and interference. 

It is therefore vital that telecom companies plan the position of cells - and the angle of device antennas - to minimise the attenuation risk. 

Related: 7 challenges of 5G network deployment

How 3D geospatial data benefits 5G RedCap rollouts

Using 3D geospatial data can be highly informative for network planners as they begin rolling out 5G RedCap infrastructure. By interacting with up-to-date 3D maps of your target area, you can visualise all potential obstacles that may attenuate signals and then select the optimal location for base stations and antennas. 

By using maps with 3D geospatial data you can:

• Map coverage accurately

Get detailed insights into the landscape where you’re planning to deploy 5G RedCap infrastructure. This includes topography, building location, vegetation density, water bodies, and other obstacles that could attenuate signals. 

• Line-of-sight analysis

You can use 3D geospatial data to carry out line-of-sight analysis. What might block a signal, and where can you position base stations to circumvent this?

• Manage people more efficiently

Save your technicians from repeated field trips to investigate the best sites for 5G RedCap network infrastructure. By using 3D geospatial data, you can identify the most suitable locations in the office, and only send technicians out when you have a much clearer plan of where they need to install the kit. 

• Save time and money

Reduce time and money spent travelling - particularly to remote locations such as wind farms or mines. Using 3D geospatial data means you can fully investigate the site in advance, so installation requires just one single visit. 

• Lower hardware costs

Although 5G RedCap hardware is less expensive than more advanced 5G technology, the costs of large-scale deployments will add up. Meticulously planned projects mean you know exactly how many pieces of kit you need - and avoid the need to order excess devices ‘just in case’. 

Read more: Why RF planning needs better maps for 5G success

LuxCarta’s 3D geospatial data solutions

With over 30 years of experience in digital mapping for the telecom industry, LuxCarta has developed a deep understanding of the needs of network planners. We are continually innovating, and have developed some of the most sophisticated 3D geospatial data solutions for 5G rollouts - including for 5G RedCap. 

We use the most up-to-date satellite images to create 3D maps of your target site - be that dense urban environments, suburban sprawl, or remote regions. Our maps provide all the insights you need for 5G RedCap planning, including digital elevation, clutter, land use, population maps, and 3D buildings and vegetation. 

The growth of 5G RedCap will drive the market for IoT technologies in the coming decade. Using accurate 3D geospatial data to better plan locations for your cell towers and base stations, your organization can capture a share in this new market. 

Contact LuxCarta today to learn how we can create maps for your 5G RedCap rollout.