Wireless signals are inherently unstable in wide environments: limited signal strength and objects within wireless zones affect signal range and interfere with device connectivity. This can impact the operation of existing applications and is slowing the deployment of high-speed 5G services and the design of 6G architecture.
Intelligent surfaces, also known as reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), are programmable electronic structures that control and amplify wireless signals within a given environment. These structures can be attached to most surfaces and focus wireless signals toward specific areas, allowing for the establishment of different wireless zones and services within a few wireless communication environments.
Vincenzo Sciancalepore, principal researcher at NEC, stated: “Smart surfaces are incredibly versatile and ideal for creating public and private networks in large open spaces, such as train stations, shopping centers, and 5G-connected factories. This opens up new business opportunities for service providers to deploy low-latency 5G services that are contextually relevant and location-specific. Once implemented, the simplicity of these devices will accelerate 6G architecture planning.”
NEC’s smart surfaces improve upon current RIS technology by being entirely passive, with no active radio frequency components, thus reducing their overall power consumption and the number of electronic components that need to be printed. This translates to lower production costs and a smaller carbon footprint.
Xavier Costa, director of the 6G Research Group at NEC Laboratories Europe, states: "Smart surfaces can be designed to adhere to anything and direct and amplify wireless signals in open spaces, but until now their manufacturing cost has prevented their use from being seriously considered. Once this problem is solved, we have a realistic roadmap for their rapid commercialization, which represents a true milestone for wireless communications."
Existing third-party smart surface prototypes have significant drawbacks, such as reconfiguration latency, complex circuitry, and high power consumption. In contrast, NEC's smart surfaces improve upon the standard RIS electronic design, simplifying them while increasing device reconfiguration speed. According to Sciancalepore, "Faster reconfiguration speed will allow a smart surface to connect directly to an existing O-RAN-compliant network architecture, where a near real-time RAN intelligent control (RIC) can exchange information directly with the device and change its configuration.".
Once commercially available, smart surfaces will be integrated into existing wireless networks, significantly reducing installation and maintenance costs for local telecommunications operators. The technology will enable more accurate indoor geolocation systems, provide robust electromagnetic field (EMF) protection in public areas, and help deliver enhanced and personalized services to end users.
