Engineers at the University of Glasgow have developed a technique to help 6G networks maintain reliable connection amid the rising electromagnetic interference of today’s ultra-connected devices.
The research focuses on reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), which redirect wireless signals toward specific users rather than indiscriminate groups.
While RIS technology can amplify unwanted electromagnetic interference alongside the desired signal, the Glasgow-led team has developed a framework to mitigate these effects.
It does so by analysing the interference “fingerprint” and adjusting how the surface redirects wireless signals, supporting increased security for future networks with integrated sensing and communications (ISAC).
As such, future intelligent wall panels, ceilings or decorative architectural elements could incorporate RIS functionality to direct wireless signals where homeowners need the strongest connectivity.
Looking forward, the ISAC systems of the future are expected to combine ultrafast data transfer with sophisticated awareness of the world around them.
But with electromagnetic interference (EMI) rising as a result of connected devices outnumbering the human population by more than two to one, it becomes difficult for communication to cut through the constant background noise.
In laboratory tests using the research team’s new EMI-aware framework, the RIS in question improved data rates and directed usable signals only toward intended users – effectively leaving simulated eavesdroppers without a viable connection.
The study was published in the IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Electromagnetics, Antennas and Propagation.
Professor Qammer Abbasi, the paper’s corresponding and lead author, said: “This work demonstrates how intelligent wireless environments can become an active part of the network, rather than simply reflecting signals.
“This is an important step towards AI-native 6G networks that can intelligently adapt to the real world while delivering tangible societal and economic benefits.”
While the technology is still emerging, RIS could one day help integrators overcome dead spots in large homes and improve the performance of networks containing dozens of connected devices.
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