Huawei Releases RTN 5100 Microwave Solution, Bringing New Variables to Industrial Wireless Backhaul

On September 21, 2026, during Huawei Connect, Huawei officially released its new-generation 5GHz public spectrum point-to-multipoint microwave solution, the RTN 5100. Compared with the previous generation, the RTN 5100 doubles both transmission capacity and site access count: a single hub site supports up to 2 x 1 Gbps throughput and can connect up to 128 remote sites. It adopts TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) technology to achieve stable and orderly scheduling of multi-site access, with air-interface support for Chinese national cryptographic standards and AES256 high-strength encryption.

This release sends a clear signal: demand for "efficient backhaul, secure encryption, and rapid deployment" at industry sites is accelerating. Distributed sites in power, oil and gas, and government sectors, as well as enterprise leased-line scenarios, are becoming key battlegrounds for wireless backhaul technology.

The "Last Mile" Dilemma of Wired Backhaul

Microwave solutions address the problem of "no fiber" or "prohibitively expensive fiber deployment" between sites. But closer to the terminal devices—inside factory floors, within campus interiors, and inside distributed sites—there is also a "last mile" access challenge.

Traditional wired networking faces several practical obstacles in industrial scenarios. Retrofitting old plants with new network cabling is costly, takes a long construction period, and disrupts normal production. Mobile equipment such as AGVs, forklifts, and inspection robots cannot be connected via wired means. Outdoor sites, remote pumping stations, and distributed charging piles are scattered, making wired access economically unfeasible.

What these scenarios need is not microwave backhaul replacing fiber, but industrial-grade wireless equipment that completes device access and data aggregation within the site. In actual projects, many system integrators have begun replacing traditional wired access solutions with industrial-grade 5G CPEs—power on and get connected, eliminating cabling and construction work, especially suitable for environments where "fiber can't reach and cables can't be pulled."

Three Hard Metrics at the Access Layer

Based on recent project experience across multiple industries, the requirements for wireless access equipment at industrial sites are converging into three key terms.

Rapid deployment without cabling. For scenarios where network cabling is impossible or difficult, 5G CPEs convert 5G signals into Wi-Fi or wired networks wirelessly, entering data transmission state as soon as powered on. This is particularly urgent for old factory retrofits, temporary site setups, and scattered outdoor locations. Take MovingComm's W3500 outdoor 5G CPE as an example—such products support IP67-rated waterproofing and dustproofing, coverage radius of up to 150 meters, and operate with standard PoE power, creating a clear difference in deployment efficiency compared with traditional wired solutions.

Industrial-grade stability and reliability. Electromagnetic interference, dust, and temperature-humidity variations in industrial environments are beyond what ordinary consumer-grade routers can withstand. Equipment needs metal housings and industrial-grade components, support for wide voltage input and wide temperature operation, and watchdog auto-recovery mechanisms. MovingComm's industrial routers have accumulated substantial field experience in this dimension. Take the I2105 5G RedCap industrial router as an example—its operating temperature ranges from -35°C to 75°C, features dual watchdog design, 1.5KV electromagnetic isolation protection for Ethernet ports, and 15KV ESD protection for SIM card interfaces, adapting to deployment needs in various industrial cabinets and outdoor enclosures.

Multi-device access and secure transmission. A single industrial router often needs to simultaneously carry PLC data collection, video surveillance backhaul, and sensor data reporting. MovingComm's I5100 industrial-grade 5G router is equipped with 5 gigabit Ethernet ports (1 WAN + 4 LAN), RS485/RS232 serial communication terminals, supports dual-SIM 5G, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi multiple access methods, and has a built-in VPN client supporting IPSec/WireGuard protocols to ensure the security of industrial data transmission over public networks.

The Access Layer Variable Brought by 5G RedCap

From an industry trend perspective, the industrial wireless access layer is undergoing a "lightweight" evolution. Behind Huawei's RTN 5100 doubling its capacity and access count is the demand for low-cost connectivity across massive numbers of sites. Similarly, in the cellular IoT domain, the commercialization of 5G RedCap (lightweight 5G) is significantly reducing the cost and power consumption of 5G modules, further lowering the deployment threshold for 5G industrial routers.

MovingComm has launched the ComIn I2105 5G RedCap industrial router, equipped with a 32-bit MIPS dual-core industrial-grade processor and 128MB memory, achieving theoretical downlink speeds of up to 226 Mbps and uplink speeds of up to 120 Mbps in 5G SA mode. While maintaining 5G's low-latency and high-reliability characteristics, it adapts to medium and low-speed IoT scenarios at a more optimal cost. This product strategy aligns with the overall industry trend: industrial connectivity is moving from "can connect" to "affordable, stable, and secure."

The Complete Link from Backhaul to Access

Huawei's RTN 5100 addresses the "backhaul" efficiency problem between sites, while the "access" problem between devices and networks within sites requires another layer of equipment. Both are at different layers in the complete industrial IoT link but serve the same goal: enabling data at industry sites to flow efficiently, securely, and at low cost.

For network solution designers in factories, campuses, and energy sites, backhaul solution selection requires consideration of spectrum, distance, and capacity, while access solution selection requires consideration of device count, environmental conditions, security requirements, and deployment efficiency. At the access layer, MovingComm's industrial router and 5G CPE product line covers configurations from the I2105 RedCap lightweight solution to the I5100 dual-SIM 5G solution and the W3500 outdoor CPE, moving from "optional" to an actual choice for industry users.