使用RIS绕过障碍物，而不是穿过障碍物

INSIGHT SPOTLIGHT This report is the first part of a new series – called 5GNext – to better understand the next phase of the 5Gera and to highlight promising technology innovationsthat are shaping networks. This report exploresreconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) solutions, which signal reflections has now reached a level ofdevelopment where operators can consider using anintermediate network element between base stationantennas and user equipment. RIS innovation can helpoperators in terms of capex-efficient network Analysis Impact on network economics While RIS is a relatively new product, early trials and tests(such as thefirst active RIS trial) give an indication ofadvantages that operators can expect across four main By the second half of 2023, most 5G-related discussions hadturned to not what 5G can do, but rather how it can be moreefficient. Technology vendor R&D departments are pushing •Capex:Less capex for network densification is needed, asfewer macro sites or small cells are needed. Reflective surfaces, relays and mirroring are not particularlynew concepts, but some vendors are actively trying to refreshthe idea of guiding RF signals via new network elements. Thetiming couldn't be better: against the backdrop of massive 5Ginvestment requirements, operators are actively looking forcost- and time-efficient solutions to densify their 5G networks.At the same time, mobile broadband is expanding into ever •Sustainability:Energy efficiency is improved, as there isless need for higher-power solutions for penetrating thick •Deployment ease:Time to market is reduced becauseinstallation and governmental authorisation are significantly •User experience:Better quality of service and customersatisfaction are achieved thanks to fewer gaps in the On the cost side, the introduction of a new network element andbuilding new network management skills always come with their How does it work? With a new reflection point in between the antenna and the userequipment, network coverage can be significantly improved.This intermediate network element is the RIS. Generally, thiswill be a pizza-box-sized piece of equipment sitting between thebase station and the user device, with surfaces that havereflection, refraction and absorption properties (thanks to many Although the cost of RIS is expected to be a fraction of a basestation, RIS solutions are still expected to have a considerableadditional deployment cost since a larger number of RISelements will be required to cover a specific area. Deploymentsmay also be complicated by the bidirectional near-line-of-sightrequirements, need for an unobstructed deployment location There are two main types of RIS: passive and active. Whilepassive RIS reflects a fixed outgoing beam, active RIS achievesbeam steering and user tracking, effectively enhancing the Implications Mobile operators Vendors •Think distributed –Distributed mobile networks are acollection of smaller independently run networks that canbe collectively managed. This distributed design has thepotential to deliver better quality, as well as makedeployments easier, faster and cheaper, with a significantlysmaller environmental footprint. Network analytics andmanagement tools, materials and components areimproving rapidly, so localising and distributing networks •Pick early partners carefully –Vendors need to selectthe right network operator partner for their first RISdeployment, as the success of early trials and deploymentsis essential for a vendor’s commercial strategy. A properlycommunicated successful early RIS deployment is one ofthe most important commercial tools for a vendor thatwants to sell RIS solutions. Before RIS reaches technology •Build partnerships with infrastructure suppliers – Introducing new technologies is never easy in the telecomsindustry, especially when it can impact customersatisfaction and quality of service. Mobile operators want tomake sure that any new technology is lab- and/or field- •Consider RIS as part of a broader deployment – Introducing new network architecture without impactingcustomer experience can take time, especially if using newspectrum bands. The greatest efficiency gains can beachieved with mmWave in dense city squares, malls,offices, stadia, train stations, factories and warehouses.Passive RIS is cheaper and ideal when the user •Explain why RIS instead of other coverage-extensionsolutions –Creating an RIS market and convincingoperators to include these new intermediate networkelements between the antenna and the user equipmentrequires proof, knowledge and trust. To achieve this,vendors should dedicate significant resources on educating •Don’t heat the concrete –Propagation characteristics ofhigher spectrum bands are different from an energy-efficiency perspective. While lower bands can easilypenetrate thick walls without significantly losing signalstrength, the same wall can easily absorb the majority ofhigher-frequency signals, transforming them i