RIS-Aided Mobile Network Design

TL;DR

This study investigates the strategic placement of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) in urban 5G/6G networks to enhance signal quality, reduce infrastructure costs, and improve coverage in complex city environments.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of RIS deployment strategies in urban settings, demonstrating their effectiveness in mitigating path loss and optimizing network performance.

Findings

RIS significantly reduces path loss in urban environments

Strategic RIS placement improves signal coverage in NLOS conditions

RIS deployment can decrease the need for additional base stations

Abstract

In this paper, we examine the distribution of radio signal propagation within the city of Poznan (Poland) to determine optimal locations for deploying Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS). The study focuses on designing a 5G/6G Radio Access Network (RAN), incorporating eight Base Stations (BSs) that utilize either Single Input Single Output (SISO), or Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna technologies, depending on the network cell configuration. Through detailed simulations and analyses, we explore various propagation scenarios in both Line-of-Sight (LOS) and Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) conditions, considering the complex urban landscape characterized by high-rise buildings. The results demonstrate the potential of using RISs in mobile networks to enhance radio signal quality in urban environments through strategic placements. Our findings suggest that RISs can significantly mitigate Path Loss (PL) and improve signal coverage in challenging urban environments, particularly in areas where traditional base station deployment alone would be insufficient. Furthermore, the study highlights the role of RISs in reducing the need for additional base stations, thereby optimizing network costs and infrastructure while maintaining high-quality service delivery. The insights gained from this research provide valuable guidelines for network planners and engineers seeking to implement RIS technology in future 5G and beyond networks, ensuring more efficient and robust urban communication systems.