Quectel has announced two new 5G RedCap (Reduced Capability) modules, the RM255C-GL and RG255C-NA, both compliant with 3GPP Release 17 and designed to fill the gap between LTE Cat 4/6 and full 5G connectivity. RedCap is a streamlined version of 5G that targets industrial IoT, wearables, and video surveillance applications that need more bandwidth than LTE but do not require the full speed or power draw of standard 5G.
Both modules support 5G Sub-6GHz standalone mode with peak data rates of 223 Mbps downlink and 123 Mbps uplink, along with LTE Cat 4 fallback for backward compatibility. The RM255C-GL is a global variant in M.2 form factor (30.0 x 42.0 x 2.3 mm, 6 grams) supporting a wide range of 5G NR and LTE bands worldwide, while the RG255C-NA is a North America-focused LGA module (29.0 x 32.0 x 2.4 mm, 5.2 grams) with additional interfaces like UART, SPI, I2C, SGMII, and PCM. Both include USB 2.0 and PCIe 2.0 connectivity, dual SIM support, optional multi-constellation GNSS via Qualcomm IZat Gen 9VT, and DFOTA firmware updates.
The modules support major US carriers including AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile, and come with drivers for Windows 10/11, Linux (kernel 2.6 through 6.x), and Android 4.x through 14.x. For Linux users, Quectel provides multiple driver options including USB Serial, MBIM, Gobinet, QMI_WWAN, and PCIe drivers supporting kernels from 2.6 through 6.3. Community discussions on Quectel Forums indicate the RG255C series can work with ModemManager and libqmi, though some users report that kernel patches to qmi_wwan.c may be needed for optimal functionality. Operating temperature ranges from negative 30°C to 75°C (negative 22°F to 167°F) for the RM255C-GL and negative 35°C to 75°C (negative 31°F to 167°F) for the RG255C-NA, with optional extended range support down to negative 40°C (negative 40°F).
The RM255C-GL is currently available from Mouser for $144 (€132) with a minimum order quantity of 150 units. Additional details are available in the Quectel press release.
