Looking beyond 5G to the 6G era, there will likely be greater demand for communication with and between objects – not to mention more communication between people – and this will lead to an increase in mobile communication traffic. To accommodate this predicted surge, millimeter wave frequencies, such as the 28GHz band, have been allocated for 5G, thanks to their ability to utilize a wide bandwidth. The millimeter wave band, however, has certain characteristics that present challenges for mobile communications. These include high propagation loss and strong directivity, which make it difficult to cover wide areas.
One potential solution to address these area coverage issues is the use of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) technology. While extensive research has been conducted in this area, there are still hurdles to overcome before RIS technology can be used for practical purposes.
SoftBank Corp.’s (TOKYO: 9434) Research Institute of Advanced Technology is working to bring 6G closer to reality by applying RIS technology from a new perspective. How can this be done? Learn more in this blog that offers insights into the innovations and progress being made at SoftBank.
(Posted on November 7, 2024)
by SoftBank News Editors
