01
Access the source
The near-end unit receives an available 5G signal from a macro site or indoor source.
Active RIS Solution for 5G Coverage Enhancement
Active Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface for 5G Networks
RFCOM Active RIS is designed for sites that have a usable donor signal but cannot reach the target area reliably because of distance, obstruction or installation limits. The system combines wireless donor access, an active relay path and digitally controlled beam shaping in a field-deployable architecture.
A targeted alternative when conventional site expansion is difficult
5G coverage gaps often appear where building penetration loss is high, the target area is far from existing infrastructure, or fiber and property coordination make a conventional RRU deployment slow and expensive.
- Uses available macro or indoor source signal through the air interface.
- Shapes horizontal and vertical beams toward the required coverage area.
- Uses an active relay path for blind-spot filling and targeted extension coverage.
- Can be evaluated in point-to-point, star, cascade or distributed architectures.
- Reduces target-area fiber work in suitable deployment scenarios.
How the RFCOM Active RIS system works
The solution forms a controlled wireless relay chain from the existing 5G source to the target coverage area.
02
Measure and align
Engineers verify donor quality and align the receiving direction for the actual site condition.
03
Shape and amplify
Phase, amplitude and active gain are controlled to form a directional relay path.
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Cover the target area
The remote unit directs the relayed signal toward the building, route or outdoor service zone.
Deployment architecture follows the site
There is no single RIS layout for every project. Donor quality, isolation, path profile, power, mounting locations and target service levels determine the practical architecture.
Point-to-point extension
A near-end and remote unit form a controlled relay path toward one defined blind spot or service area.
Star or distributed coverage
Multiple target points may be considered when the selected product version, link budget and site geometry support the design.
Cascaded linear coverage
Roads, bridges, tunnels and other long routes may use staged relay points after delay, isolation and synchronization are verified.
Where Active RIS can be applied
Active RIS is useful when a usable donor signal exists but terrain, building layout, distance or construction restrictions prevent reliable service in the target area.
Buildings and indoor blind spots
Direct coverage toward blocked floors, dormitories, venues and other difficult indoor areas.
Farms, parks and low-density areas
Extend service toward scattered demand zones without building a complete target-area site.
Roads, bridges and linear routes
Use directional or cascade relay architecture for coverage along constrained linear environments.
Active RIS compared with conventional expansion
The correct architecture depends on signal conditions, capacity requirements, spectrum, site geometry and long-term operating needs. Active RIS is an additional engineering option, not a universal replacement for DAS, small cells or new radio sites.
| Decision factor | Conventional RRU expansion | RFCOM Active RIS |
|---|---|---|
| Signal transport | Typically requires transmission and power at the new radio location. | Uses an available wireless source signal and an active relay path. |
| Target-area construction | May require fiber, equipment room, property access and civil work. | Designed to reduce target-area construction in suitable scenarios. |
| Coverage direction | Determined by radio and antenna installation. | Digitally controlled horizontal and vertical beam shaping. |
| Best fit | High-capacity or permanent sites where full infrastructure is justified. | Blind spots, coverage edges, temporary sites and difficult construction areas. |
Q&A
What is RFCOM's Active RIS solution for 5G?
In RFCOM's current product architecture, Active RIS is a cellular coverage-extension system for sites where a usable donor signal exists but does not reach the target area reliably. A near-end unit accesses the donor signal, an active relay path processes it, and a remote unit directs coverage toward a defined area. It is an option for targeted coverage improvement, not a universal replacement for a base station, DAS, small cell, or repeater.
How is Active RIS different from passive RIS?
Passive RIS mainly redirects incident radio energy and therefore depends heavily on donor strength, angle, and path geometry. RFCOM's Active RIS architecture adds an active relay path and controllable beam shaping, giving the RF designer more link-budget flexibility. The added gain does not remove the need to check donor quality, isolation, interference, synchronization, and local approval requirements.
How is Active RIS different from a cellular repeater or outdoor WiFi access point?
An outdoor WiFi access point provides WiFi connectivity from an IP backhaul; it does not extend a licensed cellular signal in the same way. A conventional cellular repeater amplifies selected uplink and downlink bands. RFCOM Active RIS combines relay gain with adjustable beam direction and beamwidth. The right choice depends on band support, donor conditions, capacity, isolation, monitoring, certification, site geometry, and total cost. Active RIS is not automatically better than a repeater.
What donor signal is required for an Active RIS deployment?
As a general screening reference, RFCOM normally looks for donor RSRP above -85 dBm with SINR above 5 dB for a 1 W configuration, and donor RSRP above -95 dBm with SINR above 5 dB for a 10 W configuration. These are initial evaluation references rather than universal acceptance thresholds. Bandwidth, source-cell loading, path profile, interference, receive location, and the selected model must still be checked through measurements and a link-budget review.
How far can Active RIS extend coverage?
Coverage depends on the environment, donor quality, antenna gain and beamwidth, mounting height, path loss, interference, and the required service level. Based on RFCOM project experience in unobstructed conditions, a 1 W configuration has covered approximately 360 meters, while a 10 W configuration has covered up to approximately 2.5 kilometers. These distances are project references, not guaranteed model specifications; the expected range must be confirmed for the actual path and acceptance target.
Does Active RIS add network capacity?
The donor base station remains the main source of cellular capacity. Active RIS can extend usable coverage and improve radio conditions in a blind spot or low-traffic area, but it does not create an independent base-station capacity layer. User experience still depends on donor-cell loading, available spectrum, MIMO configuration, SINR, scheduler behavior, and the number of active users.
Does wireless donor access mean the system needs no fiber or power?
No. Wireless donor access may avoid bringing a new radio backhaul connection into the target area, but the equipment still needs power, mounting, and the specified connection between system elements. Different product versions may use different transport and powering arrangements. RFCOM must confirm the exact architecture before design or quotation.
Is beam alignment fully automatic, and can it eliminate interference?
Beam-control behavior is version-specific. Depending on the product, a management platform may select a beam pattern or support defined interference-control functions. Adjustable direction and beamwidth can focus coverage and reduce unnecessary spill, but sidelobes, reflections, uplink noise, and the surrounding RF environment remain. The system should not be described as creating zero leakage or zero interference.
Which frequency bands and network configurations are supported?
Active RIS equipment is band-specific; it is not one universal full-band device. RFCOM reviews the operator band, bandwidth, duplex mode, TDD synchronization, carrier configuration, uplink and downlink architecture, and market-specific approval requirements. Support for a named band or network must be confirmed against the exact model and approved datasheet.
Can one near-end unit serve multiple remote units or cascaded coverage points?
Star, distributed, and cascaded layouts may be considered, but there is no topology limit that applies to every version. The practical number of remote units or relay stages depends on the model, transport architecture, link budget, gain, isolation, synchronization, delay, power, and traffic requirements. Fixed figures such as `1:16` require version-level confirmation.
What can the management system monitor, and how is security reviewed?
Management capability must be specified feature by feature. Depending on the version, functions may include online status, beam selection, and equipment configuration; proactive alarms, traffic statistics, remote upgrades, and northbound integration are not universal. Security review should cover management interfaces, user access, credentials, encryption, remote connectivity, firmware updates, data ownership, and the deployment network.
What information and tests are needed for an Active RIS pilot?
RFCOM needs the target coverage problem, service level, donor RSRP and SINR, band, bandwidth, source-cell information, distance, terrain, obstructions, mounting heights, power and transport availability, expected users, and local approval requirements. Before installation, agree on baseline and post-deployment test locations and methods for RSRP, SINR, uplink and downlink throughput, service continuity, mobility, and handover where applicable.
Evaluate an Active RIS deployment
Share the source-signal measurements, target-area map, distance, frequency band and expected coverage level. RFCOM can review whether Active RIS, DAS, a repeater or another architecture is the better fit.
