At the 2025 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Samsung and Hyundai Motor Company introduced a private 5G network designed to enhance connectivity for low-power industrial devices across large-scale facilities.

The companies showcased their 5G Reduced Capability (RedCap) network, an advanced system that enables real-time data transmission during internal vehicle inspections, significantly improving efficiency compared to traditional Wi-Fi-based factory networks.

Next-Gen Connectivity for Industrial Efficiency

Developed with Qualcomm and Ericsson and standardized by 3GPP in 2022, RedCap is part of the broader 5G New Radio (5G NR) suite, which optimizes network performance by reducing bandwidth usage and power consumption. The technology is particularly suited for industrial environments, enabling longer battery life for IoT devices while maintaining high-speed, low-latency connectivity.

In January 2025, Samsung and Hyundai launched a pilot project at Samsung’s R&D center in Suwon, South Korea, assessing RedCap’s performance throughout the entire vehicle inspection process. This initiative is part of a larger effort to modernize Hyundai’s Ulsan Plant, the world’s largest automobile manufacturing facility, spanning five million square meters and producing 6,000 vehicles daily.

RedCap’s Role in Smart Manufacturing

According to Hyundai, low latency and reliability are key factors driving the adoption of private 5G networks. The company stated that RedCap supports automated guided vehicles (AGVs), autonomous mobile robots, real-time safety monitoring, and mission-critical applications that require seamless connectivity.

Unlike Wi-Fi, which struggles with frequency interference when multiple wireless devices operate in the same space, private 5G ensures stable performance across an entire facility. A Samsung spokesperson emphasized that RedCap guarantees continuous, low-latency 5G communication across a company’s operations, preventing connectivity disruptions.

Hyundai Leads the Industry in 5G Adoption

Hyundai Motor has positioned itself at the forefront of smart manufacturing by becoming South Korea’s first company to deploy private 5G in mass production. According to Kia Jae Min Lee, VP and Head of Hyundai’s E-FOREST Center, the company is also the first automaker to validate 5G RedCap technology, reinforcing its leadership in industrial digitalization.

Beyond smart factories, Samsung has been rolling out private 5G networks across various industries, including hospitals, construction sites, government agencies, and defense facilities. Unlike public mobile networks, private 5G ensures exclusive, secure connectivity by limiting access to authorized devices only.

As Hyundai and Samsung continue to push the boundaries of industrial connectivity, 5G RedCap is set to play a crucial role in revolutionizing smart manufacturing, paving the way for the next generation of automated, highly efficient production environments.