- Keysight Technologies, in collaboration with the Institute of Electronics, Microelectronics and Nanotechnology (IEMN) in France, has demonstrated a dual-polarization, non-line-of-sight (NLoS) sub-terahertz (sub-THz) communication link.
- This experiment utilized a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS).
- The work is part of research into the future 6G communication standard for indoor connectivity in obstructed environments.
Sub-THz frequencies are being studied to meet high-volume indoor data transmission needs, particularly for connected factories and research centers. However, these waves are highly sensitive to physical obstacles and attenuation, which limits their line-of-sight propagation.
To overcome this limitation, the integration of a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) allows signals to be dynamically redirected around obstacles. At the same time, the use of dual-polarization techniques aims to increase transmission channel capacity without requiring additional frequency bands.
Testbed Configuration and Software Validation
The experimental setup was implemented jointly with IEMN, Virginia Diodes Inc. (VDI), and Micro Harmonics. The testbed incorporated various signal generation and measurement instruments: an arbitrary waveform generator, a VXG series signal generator, and a UXR series oscilloscope provided by Keysight; signal converters developed by VDI; and an orthomode transducer (OMT) designed by Micro Harmonics.
Signal processing and analysis were performed using Keysight’s PathWave Signal Generation and Vector Signal Analysis software suites. Technical teams generated waveforms compliant with the physical layer frame structure of the IEEE 802.15.3d standard. This protocol enabled the evaluation of over-the-air modulation performance on each polarization channel of the Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) in a non-line-of-sight scenario.
Research framework and presentation of results
This research is part of the European Times project and the Systera project, the latter falling under the “Networks of the Future” PEPR program of the France 2030 state initiative. The collected data provide insights into polarization-dependent propagation and the behavior of sub-THz channels assisted by a Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS).
This initial experimental demonstration will be presented during the technical program of the upcoming European Microwave Week, scheduled to take place in London in October 2026.
