Breakthrough collaboration showcases technology leadership and HD-FDD as the de facto standard for 5G IoT positioning Sony’s Altair as the first publicly demonstrated eRedCap product
We’re excited to demonstrate with Keysight Technologies, a global leader in design, emulation, and test solutions, showcasing the first Release 18 eRedCap (enhanced Reduced Capability 5G) connectivity using HD-FDD (Half-Duplex Frequency Division Duplex).
The demonstration is taking place at Mobile World Congress 2026 this week and brings together our Altair ALT1550 5G eRedCap test samples which have been operational in our labs since early 2025 with Keysight’s network emulation solutions. This milestone directly addresses the growing demand for cost and power-efficient 5G IoT solutions as the industry transitions to 5G-Advanced, supporting devices that require longevity and the ability to collect increasing amounts of data.
From Standard to Reality
This demonstration signals that HD-FDD eRedCap is moving from standard to reality. With a leading silicon vendor actively developing HD-FDD-based solutions and achieving connectivity milestones, IoT device manufacturers and mobile operators can now see a clear path toward commercial HD-FDD eRedCap deployment.
Through real silicon testing with industry-standard test equipment, organizations can:
- Confirm that the technology is maturing rapidly
- Reduce development risk by engaging early with proven silicon
- Accelerate time-to-market for HD-FDD-based eRedCap products with 10- to 20-year lifecycles
As Dima Feldman, VP Product Management and Marketing at Sony’s Altair, put it: “Demonstrating real silicon connectivity with advanced test equipment is a critical step in bridging the gap between 3GPP standards and real-world deployment. This proves that eRedCap HD-FDD is no longer a concept on paper, but a working reality. Our Altair ALT1550 test samples have been running in our labs for months, giving us significant lead time in software maturity and supporting our goal to be first to market. By working closely with Keysight as an ecosystem partner, we are helping to accelerate the path to commercial HD-FDD eRedCap solutions.”
Why HD-FDD?
HD-FDD is emerging as the de facto technology for eRedCap development, offering significant advantages over alternative approaches. Through this collaboration, device manufacturers can assess HD-FDD’s benefits firsthand: dramatic BOM reduction, smaller module footprint, lower power consumption, significantly improved heat dissipation, and enhanced sensitivity, all critical factors for cost-sensitive IoT applications and battery-powered devices designed to operate for decades in the field.
Kalyan Sundhar, Head of Product Management, Wireless Solutions at Keysight, shared his perspective: “eRedCap will anchor the next wave of 5G IoT. Working with Sony’s Altair, we’re proving HD-FDD on real silicon using Keysight’s end-to-end emulation and conformance tools giving manufacturers and operators a trusted lab-to-deployment path that reduces risk and speeds commercialization.”
Building on Our 5G eRedCap Vision
This demonstration builds on our recently announced long-term roadmap for the Altair ALT1550 5G eRedCap modem, which we outlined in January 2026, positioning eRedCap as the foundation for the next generation of global, long-life connected devices. We continue to play a leading role in the HD-FDD ecosystem — publishing technical white papers and participating in GSMA initiatives that promote HD-FDD adoption for 5G IoT.
See It at MWC Barcelona
The demonstration is live at MWC Barcelona (2–5 March 2026) in two locations:
- Keysight’s booth — Hall 5, Stand 5F41
- Sony Semiconductor Israel meeting room — Hall 7, Stand 7F21Ex (by appointment)
Come see the future of 5G IoT connectivity in action.