The global standards organization ETSI has launched a new Industry Specification Group (ISG) dedicated to Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS), a technology expected to play a pivotal role in the evolution toward 6G networks.
Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces are engineered surfaces made up of many small antenna elements or metamaterial components that can be programmed to shape and control radio waves dynamically. By adjusting how the surface reflects or refracts signals, RIS can direct and manipulate radio propagation to achieve specific communication or sensing objectives.
In real-world applications, RIS promises to enable new services and improve existing ones. For example, in assisted living and elderly care settings, RIS could adapt the radio environment to monitor posture and movement, helping to detect falls or prolonged inactivity without relying on wearable devices.
One of the notable advantages of RIS is its potential for low-cost deployment. ETSI notes that many RIS designs rely primarily on passive or low-power components, which can reduce both capital and operating expenses compared with conventional active network elements such as full base stations or relays.
RIS devices can be deployed in both indoor and outdoor environments and are energy-efficient, contributing to a smaller environmental footprint compared with more power-hungry infrastructure. Their flexibility also extends to spectrum: RIS can operate across a wide range of frequencies, from sub-6 GHz bands through millimeter-wave and into terahertz bands, adapting to the needs of diverse use cases.
Additionally, RIS can be combined with emerging tools such as artificial intelligence to optimize configuration and performance in real time, enabling adaptive control that responds to changing conditions and user demands.
Although extensive academic and industry research has already explored RIS concepts and prototypes, standardization is still in its early phases. ETSI’s new ISG RIS has been formed to accelerate the development of common specifications and to address the technical challenges that remain before RIS can be widely adopted and commercialized.
“By transforming the wireless environment from a passive backdrop into an intelligent participant, RIS will create new innovation opportunities and gradually influence wireless system architecture, access technologies, and networking protocols,” says Arman Shojaeifard, Chair of ISG RIS.
“There are, however, many technical challenges that need to be adequately addressed before RIS can be incorporated into future standards and moved toward commercialization. The ETSI ISG RIS will focus on identifying and tackling some of these challenges.”
Current members of ETSI’s RIS group can be viewed here.
(Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash)
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