Samsung and Hyundai have completed an end-to-end Reduced Capability (RedCap) trial for smart factories over a private 5G network.
The achievement builds on Samsung’s deployment of a private 5G network in Hyundai’s flagship Ulsan Plant last October.
Located in South Korea, the Ulsan Plant site holds the title of the world’s largest singular automobile manufacturing facility and produces an average of 6,000 cars daily. Samsung and Hyundai are transforming the facility into a cutting-edge smart factory as part of broader digital transformation efforts.
Making factories smart with private 5G connectivity
The private 5G network deployed by Samsung at Hyundai’s plant facilitates seamless connectivity between devices and systems, ensuring operational efficiency and real-time data transmission. The network is critical for enabling advanced smart factory systems, including IoT devices and Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), which transport car parts to production lines.
“Hyundai Motor was the first Korean company to implement private 5G (P-5G) in mass production,” said Jae Min Lee, VP and Head of E-FOREST Center at Hyundai Motor and Kia.
“We are also the industry’s first to verify P-5G RedCap technology, reinforcing our global leadership in smart manufacturing solutions. We will continue to accelerate its commercialisation.”
RedCap: A game-changer for IoT using private 5G networks
RedCap — which delivers a stripped-back version of 5G connectivity — supports small IoT devices like industrial sensors, wearables, and compact wireless tools by reducing device complexity while improving battery life and energy efficiency. These benefits make RedCap a vital enabler for cost-effective and scalable private 5G networks across sectors such as manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and education.
The testing, conducted at Samsung’s R&D Center in January, demonstrated RedCap’s capabilities across the entire network—from Hyundai’s vehicle inspection device to Samsung’s 5G core, radios, and network management solutions.
Samsung’s virtualised 5G Core, 4.7 GHz radios, and Network Management System formed the backbone of the trial, which also seamlessly integrated Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X35 5G Modem-RF System into Hyundai’s Diagnostic Scan (D Scan) equipment used for vehicle inspections.
D Scan allows Hyundai to conduct wireless vehicle inspections during the manufacturing process, ensuring all cars are assembled correctly before leaving the factory. With 5G connectivity replacing Hyundai’s previous Wi-Fi setup, the companies reported significant improvements in real-time data transmission reliability and speed—delivering a more efficient inspection process to support Hyundai’s production targets.
“Samsung’s RedCap-powered private 5G network solutions will open up more possibilities for enterprises, manufacturers, and public institutions, serving as a gateway to driving more efficient 5G networks,” commented Simon Lee, VP and Head of B2B·B2G Business Development, Networks Business at Samsung.
Paving the way for smart factories
Hyundai plans to expand its RedCap-enabled private 5G network to its newest electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing facilities, set to begin operations in H1 2026.
The transition to smart factories — enriched by RedCap technology — will support a range of small, efficient devices across Hyundai’s facilities, including sensors, cameras, tablet PCs, AGVs, and other tools.
With a focus on enhancing scalability and productivity, this collaboration between Samsung and Hyundai is expected to provide a blueprint for industries seeking to adopt private 5G networks.
Analysts predict RedCap technology will drive widespread adoption of private 5G by mitigating power consumption and device costs while supporting a variety of industrial use cases.
“The adoption of RedCap technology will empower private 5G networks to be more efficient and cost-effective, allowing for devices with smaller form factors, longer battery life, and reduced power consumption,” said Pablo Tomasi, Principal Analyst for Private Networks at Omdia.
With RedCap technology and private 5G paving the way, Samsung and Hyundai are building the foundation for a new era of industrial automation that could advance global manufacturing.
See also: ETSI launches committee tackling IoT data sharing challenges
Want to learn about the IoT from industry leaders? Check out IoT Tech Expo taking place in Amsterdam, California, and London. The comprehensive event is co-located with other leading events including Cyber Security & Cloud Expo, AI & Big Data Expo, Intelligent Automation Conference, Edge Computing Expo, and Digital Transformation Week.
Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.
