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Invest in 5G RedCap or Stay With 4G LTE - TCO Calculator

5G RedCap vs LTE Router TCO Analysis

15-Year Total Cost of Ownership Comparison (Net Present Value)

Configuration
Hardware Costs
$
$
Installation
$
years
Financial
%
Analysis Period
years
Scale
units

Deployment Timeline

Scenario 1: 5G RedCap Now
Scenario 2: LTE Now → 5G RedCap Later
Drag the slider to adjust LTE sunset timing

Total Cost Comparison — NPV

Scenario 1: 5G RedCap Now

Hardware (100 units): $80,000
Installation (100 units): $20,000
Total Cost (NPV)
$100,000

Scenario 2: LTE Now → 5G RedCap Year 3

Initial Deployment
LTE Hardware (100 units): $50,000
LTE Installation: $20,000
Year 3 Replacement
5G RedCap Hardware: $80,000
Replacement Labor: $20,000
Replacement NPV (5% discount): $86,384
Total Cost (NPV)
$156,384
✓ Scenario 1 is More Cost-Effective
Deploying 5G RedCap now saves $56,384 (36.1%) over 15 years
$56,384

Per-Unit Cost Analysis (NPV)

Scenario 1
$1,000
Scenario 2
$1,564
Savings / Unit
$564

Analysis Assumptions

  • Operational costs assumed equal between LTE and 5G RedCap (data plans, maintenance). Actual costs may vary by carrier and contract.
  • Performance benefits of 5G RedCap (lower latency, higher bandwidth, improved battery life) are not quantified in this financial analysis.
  • Time horizon: 15-year analysis with 5% discount rate applied to future costs.
  • NPV methodology: Scenario 2 replacement costs in year 3 are discounted to present value.
  • Technology lifecycle: Both technologies assumed viable for the full 15-year period.

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