Quectel Wireless Solutions announced the expansion of its 5G RedCap portfolio with the launch of the RM255C-GL for global markets and the RG255C-NA for the North America market, strengthening its mid-tier 5G offering for worldwide deployments. As 5G expands further into industrial and IoT domains, demand is increasing for solutions that combine performance with cost efficiency. Positioned between high-speed eMBB and narrowband NB-IoT, 5G RedCap (Reduced Capability) is designed to address mid-tier connectivity requirements.
The RM255C-GL is a 5G Sub-6GHz RedCap module in the M.2 form factor, developed in accordance with 3GPP Release 17. It supports peak data rates of up to 223 Mbps downlink and 123 Mbps uplink, with 5G Sub-6GHz standalone (SA) operation and LTE Cat 4 fallback. Backward compatibility with Release 15 and Release 16 networks supports deployment across existing infrastructures. The RM255C-GL is pin-to-pin compatible with Quectel’s RM5x0N and RM50xQ 5G series, and both pin-to-pin and size compatible with selected LTE-A and 4G modules including the EM06, EM12 series, EM160R-GL and EM05.
The module integrates Qualcomm® IZat™ Gen 9VT location technology with optional multi-constellation GNSS support including GPS, GLONASS, BDS, Galileo, QZSS and NavIC. It supports 5G SA mode, embedded protocol stacks, and high-speed USB 2.0 and PCIe 2.0 interfaces.
The RG255C-NA is a 5G RedCap Sub-6GHz LGA module designed in compliance with 3GPP Release 17. It supports key 5G capabilities including URLLC and network slicing, with peak data rates of up to 223 Mbps downlink and 123 Mbps uplink. The module operates in 5G Sub-6GHz standalone (SA) mode with LTE Cat 4 fallback and is backward compatible with Release 15 and Release 16 networks. It is compatible with Quectel’s EG2x 4G module series.
The RG255C-NA integrates Qualcomm® IZat™ Gen 9VT location technology with multi-constellation GNSS support including GPS, GLONASS, NavIC, BDS, QZSS and Galileo. It includes Internet protocols and interfaces such as USB 2.0, PCIe 2.0, PCM, UART, SGMII and SPI, along with USB driver support for Windows 10/11, Linux and Android.
“The commercialization of 5G RedCap is a key milestone in making 5G ubiquitous. For a long time, the industry has faced difficult trade-offs between performance and cost. The launch of Quectel’s two new RedCap modules aims to solve this core pain point,” commented Leo Yao, Product Director, Quectel Wireless Solutions. “Quectel offers not just a module, but a complete solution including hardware reference designs for application scenarios, external edge computing capabilities, and global certifications, significantly lowering customers’ product development barriers and time-to-market.”
Defined in the 3GPP Release 17 standard, 5G RedCap streamlines device capabilities to reduce complexity, cost and energy consumption while retaining essential 5G features. It is positioned between LTE Cat 4/6 and full 5G for industrial-grade 5G adoption.
The RM255C-GL and RG255C-NA have completed required regulatory and industry conformance certifications. The RG255C-NA is certified to FCC, IC and PTCRB standards, while the RM255C-GL has achieved CE, RCM, FCC, IC, GCF and PTCRB certifications.