From 5G to 6G: The Role of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces in the Evolution of Wireless Communications

A special issue of Electronics (ISSN 2079-9292). This special issue belongs to the section "Microwave and Wireless Communications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 August 2025 | Viewed by 806

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Electronic Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 10608 Taiwan
Interests: antennas; wireless communications; engineering data mining and optimization

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The transition from 5G to 6G represents a significant leap in wireless communication technologies, with Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) playing a pivotal role in this evolution. RIS are artificial surfaces with embedded electronics that can manipulate electromagnetic waves, enhancing signal propagation, coverage, and capacity. These surfaces are expected to revolutionize wireless networks by providing smart, controllable environments that adapt to changing conditions, thereby improving communication reliability and efficiency. This Special Issue aims to explore the theoretical foundations, design principles, and practical implementations of RIS in the context of 6G networks. We invite contributions that address the challenges and opportunities associated with RIS, including advancements in materials, signal processing algorithms, network architectures, and real-world applications. By bringing together leading researchers and practitioners, this Special Issue will serve as a comprehensive resource for understanding the transformative impact of RIS on future wireless communication systems.

Prof. Dr. Yensheng Chen
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • 5G/6G networks
  • reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS)
  • wireless communication
  • signal processing
  • network architectures

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

26 pages, 9151 KiB  
Article
Beam-Switching Antennas Using a Butler Matrix with a Five-Element Configuration
by Wei-Heng Peng and Yen-Sheng Chen
Electronics 2025, 14(5), 959; https://doi.org/10.3390/electronics14050959 - 27 Feb 2025
Viewed by 452
Abstract
Beam-switching technology is critical for fifth-generation (5G) Frequency Range 1 (FR1) base stations, yet existing odd-number Butler matrix designs often struggle to achieve compact size, low complexity, and efficient performance. Although a few studies have investigated 5 × 5 Butler matrices, their reliance [...] Read more.
Beam-switching technology is critical for fifth-generation (5G) Frequency Range 1 (FR1) base stations, yet existing odd-number Butler matrix designs often struggle to achieve compact size, low complexity, and efficient performance. Although a few studies have investigated 5 × 5 Butler matrices, their reliance on waveguide structures or multilayer implementations leads to larger footprints and greater fabrication complexity. This work introduces a novel 5 × 5 Butler matrix integrated with a five-element dipole antenna array for 3.3–3.7 GHz applications, offering notable improvements in beam-switching efficiency and overall system design. The proposed matrix generates five distinct beams at −144°, −72°, 0°, 72°, and 144° by employing precise phase progression, while eliminating crossovers and power dividers to simplify the layout. With a compact footprint of 2.67 × 0.80 × 0.02 cubic wavelength—94.4% smaller than waveguide-based designs—the matrix achieves a bandwidth of 3.32–3.62 GHz and consistently covers the target beams. The integrated system attains measured gains up to 11.4 dBi and half-power beamwidths ranging from 7.96° to 23.66°, with sidelobe levels comparable to those of state-of-the-art configurations. By employing a low-loss substrate, the gain can be further enhanced by as much as 6.81 dB, highlighting the potential for additional performance gains. These innovations establish the proposed design as a compact, low-complexity, and high-performance solution for 5G base station applications. Full article
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