South Korean researchers have created a transparent film that could revolutionize indoor 5G reception. (Image courtesy of ETRI)
DAEJEON, March 21 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean researchers have created a transparent film that could revolutionize indoor 5G reception, eliminating the need for expensive signal repeaters while solving one of 5G’s most persistent problems: poor indoor coverage.
The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) has announced the development of an intelligent reconfigurable surface (RIS) technology that offers high transmission, broadband, and wide-angle characteristics in the millimeter wave spectrum — a crucial advancement for both 5G and future 6G networks.
The innovation addresses a persistent challenge in current 5G networks. Despite high indoor facility access rates, most 5G signals from outdoor base stations are lost when penetrating building walls, forcing devices to default to slower LTE connections. Telecommunications companies have traditionally solved this problem by installing expensive repeaters inside buildings, significantly increasing infrastructure costs.
ETRI’s solution involves a transparent film or panel containing ultra-small array antennas that can be attached to building windows or walls. The technology uses a polyester (PET) film embedded with microscopic patterns measuring just a few micrometers, effectively turning windows into signal relay stations.
“This technology could revolutionize how we think about indoor cellular coverage,” said Lee Jung-nam, a senior researcher at ETRI’s Radio Environment Monitoring Research Laboratory. “We aim to overcome the limitations of radio wave propagation and contribute to expanding Korea’s radio technology capabilities to provide various services, including communications.”
What sets this development apart is its unprecedented bandwidth capability. The new RIS technology offers nearly ten times the bandwidth of existing solutions, making it compatible not only with current 5G networks but also with future 6G services. This broad compatibility eliminates the need for multiple specialized systems for different network generations.
The research team plans to commercialize the technology within three years through technology transfers to antenna material component companies. The development could mark a significant shift in how buildings are equipped for mobile communications, potentially reducing infrastructure costs while improving service quality.
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
