Turkcell and ZTE conduct Europe's first dynamic RIS trial in a 5G Advanced mmWave network

• Turkcell and ZTE have collaborated to complete Europe's first dynamic RIS (Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface) trial, significantly improving coverage in 5G Advanced mmWave networks within complex dense urban areas
• This collaboration marks a significant milestone in 5G Advanced mmWave and RIS technology, advancing their commercialization and laying a stronger foundation for future smart cities

Istanbul, Türkiye, 7 November 2024 – ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a leading global provider of integrated information and communication technology solutions, partnered with Türkiye's leading telecommunications operator, Turkcell, to conduct the first dynamic RIS (Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface) trial in Europe, using mmWave (millimeter-Wave) spectrum at Turkcell's 5G Advanced test network.

This innovative solution optimizes mmWave networking, offering an efficient, low-cost, and low-carbon approach for large-scale mmWave network deployment, which is considered one of the key technologies for the 6G network.

RIS is a novel wireless technology based on electromagnetic metamaterials. It enables intelligent control of large-scale passive antenna elements with low power consumption, extending mmWave coverage and enhancing throughput. Moreover, the RIS supports dynamic beam scanning and user tracking, achieving wider coverage, superior user experience, and better mobility support.

During field trials, significant improvements were observed in multiple network KPIs within typical NLoS (Non-Line-of-Sight) areas for mmWave networks after deploying RIS. For instance, RSRP (Reference Signal Received Power) improved by 24 dB, downlink peak rates surged from 119 Mbps to 1.89 Gbps, and uplink peak rates increased from 2.2 Mbps to 248 Mbps. These substantial improvements in network KPIs clearly demonstrate the potential of RIS technology in mmWave networks. The test results confirm that RIS technology offers broad coverage, high throughput, and superior user experience.

Dr. Vehbi Çağrı GÜNGÖR, CTO of Network Technologies at Turkcell, stated: "As Türkiye's leading mobile network operator, we are dedicated and committed to closely investigating the novel communications technologies, and identifying their potential use cases and deployment scenarios in future wireless communication networks with joint cost and performance assessments. Through our collaboration with ZTE, focusing on the RIS products they develop, we have had the opportunity to make very valuable observations on the capabilities of the RIS technology in mmWave wireless networks which we think will contribute to our network planning perspective. We are convinced that this technology will expedite the advent of 5G-A era and greatly enhance the quality of experiences for users."

Wang Xiyu, EVP and CTO at ZTE, said, "We are honored to collaborate with Turkcell to complete the first dynamic RIS trial in Europe. RIS is a promising 6G technology. We always focus on customer needs and user experience, and are committed to applying RIS technology in the 5G-A era. In the future, ZTE will cooperate more closely with global industry partners, conduct in-depth research in new materials, hardware design, and carry out commercial network pilots, promoting the mature commercial use of RIS technology, and providing cost-effective solutions for 5G-A network deployment."