Quectel Ships Release 17 RedCap Modules Rated 223 Mbps With LTE Cat 4 Fallback

Quectel introduced two Release 17 RedCap modules at MWC26 in Barcelona, with detailed specifications published on 3 March 2026. Both are 3GPP Release 17-compliant 5G RedCap sub-6 GHz standalone parts rated at peak 223 Mbps downlink and 123 Mbps uplink, with LTE Cat 4 fallback at 200 Mbps down and 105 Mbps up, plus backward compatibility with Release 15 and Release 16 networks.

The LTE fallback is the specification that decides whether these are deployable this year. RedCap coverage is real but uneven, and a device that stops working outside a RedCap footprint is not a product. A module that degrades to LTE Cat 4 can be shipped into markets that have not launched yet and will simply get better when they do.

The RM255C-GL is the global M.2 variant at 30.0 by 42.0 by 2.3 mm and 6 g, rated -30°C to +75°C with an optional -40°C to +85°C extended range, and certified CE, RCM, FCC, IC, GCF and PTCRB. The RG255C-NA is the North American LGA variant at 29.0 by 32.0 by 2.4 mm and 5.2 g, rated -35°C to +75°C, certified FCC, IC and PTCRB. Both carry GNSS through Qualcomm IZat Gen 9VT covering GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, QZSS and NavIC, with USB 2.0, PCIe 2.0, UART, SPI and I2C interfaces; the LGA part adds SGMII and PCM audio.

The extended temperature option on the M.2 part is the detail worth flagging for industrial use, because the standard -30°C to +75°C range excludes a good deal of outdoor and cabinet-mounted equipment. Pricing has been visible at distribution: the RM255C-GL was listed on Mouser at USD 143.85 with a 150-unit minimum order, which places it well above an LTE Cat 1 module and well below full 5G.