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How 6G Will Keep Stadiums Online 🏟️ 📡 Merging Satellites and Smart Surfaces for Ultimate Connectivity

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Combining Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) and Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) to Power High-Speed, Reliable Coverage at Massive Events 🌐 🛰️

Published June 16, 2025 By EngiSphere Research Editors
Satellites and Smart Surfaces Powering the 6G Connectivity © AI Illustration
Satellites and Smart Surfaces Powering the 6G Connectivity © AI Illustration

The Main Idea

This research proposes a novel 6G network planning framework that integrates Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites (NTNs) with Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs) to deliver high-capacity, interference-managed, and reliable connectivity in high-density environments like stadiums.


The R&D

Let's make complex engineering simple and fun! Today, we dive into a futuristic solution straight from the labs of researchers in Ecuador and Luxembourg. Imagine a packed stadium—tens of thousands cheering, uploading selfies, live-streaming concerts—and the mobile network… doesn’t crash.

That’s the power of combining Beyond 5G (B5G) tech with satellites (NTNs) and smart reflective panels (RISs). Let’s explore how this dynamic trio can handle the connectivity chaos at massive events. 🛰️📶🏟️

📌 The Challenge: Internet Blackout at Big Events

We’ve all experienced it. You’re at a concert or football match, and your phone says “4G” but refuses to load anything. That’s because traditional Terrestrial Networks (TNs)—like your mobile operator’s towers—get overwhelmed in high-density environments like stadiums.

🎯 Problem: Too many users, not enough signal to go around. TNs alone can’t cope.

🌐 The Proposed Solution: NTN + RIS = 6G Superpower

This research presents a new framework for 6G network planning that combines:

🔹 Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs)
  • Satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
  • Deliver signal from space
  • Great for wide-area, low-latency coverage
🔹 Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RISs)
  • Passive reflective panels placed on buildings
  • “Bounce” signals around obstacles
  • Improve coverage and reduce blind spots

💡 Combined with existing 5G infrastructure, they create a hybrid system that ensures reliable, high-capacity connectivity, even in the busiest environments.

🧠 How It Works (Simplified)

Let’s break it down:

1. Stadium as a Testbed

The Olympic Stadium in Quito, Ecuador (🏟️ 35,800 capacity) served as the test case.

2. Two Layers of Network
  • NTN Layer (Sky): Satellites beam down signal using S-band and Ka-band frequencies.
  • RIS-TN Layer (Ground): 5G base stations with RIS panels redirect signals smartly to users.
3. Smart Handover

When your phone moves, the system hands you over seamlessly from RIS to satellite and back, avoiding service drops. 📲

4. Dynamic SINR Model

A clever formula (Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio) constantly optimizes signal quality in real time—even as thousands of users move around.

📊 The Tech Specs (Simplified)
ComponentFunction
LEO Satellites 🛰️Cover large areas with moving beams
RIS Panels 🪞Reflect signals around obstacles
Base Stations 🏢Send signals directly to users
UEs (User Equipment) 📱Phones, VR devices, etc.
Frequencies Used 📡2 GHz (S-band), 3.5 GHz (C-band), 20 GHz (Ka-band)
Tools Used 🛠️MATLAB & WinProp simulations
📈 Key Findings
✅ Better Coverage
  • A single Ka-band satellite beam could handle thousands of users.
  • RIS panels filled coverage gaps where signals couldn’t reach.
✅ Higher Speeds

Peak downlink speed:

  • 2 GHz (S-band): 454 Mbps
  • 3.5 GHz (C-band): 2.34 Gbps
  • 20 GHz (Ka-band): 8.62 Gbps
✅ Efficiency
  • Only 2 base stations and 3 RIS panels needed to cover the whole stadium area (41,000 m²).
  • System scales up dynamically when user density increases.
✅ Interference Managed Like a Pro

The dynamic SINR model distinguishes between:

  • Interference from other satellites
  • Reflections from RIS
  • Other 5G cells
  • Background noise

📶 Result: cleaner, faster signal!

✅ Low Latency

Delays remain under acceptable thresholds, even for live video and gaming use cases. 🎮

🧬 Why This Is Groundbreaking

🎉 First time a complete, dual-layer framework integrates NTN + RIS + B5G for event-level planning.
🔄 Real-time adaptability using transfer learning—the system learns from past events and improves for the next one.
📶 Ubiquitous coverage without the need for massive on-ground infrastructure.

🌍 Real-World Use Cases

These innovations aren’t just for stadiums! Here’s where they could shine:

🏞️ Remote areas with no cell towers
🚁 Emergency response in disaster zones
🧠 Smart cities handling AR/VR traffic
✈️ In-flight connectivity
🛰️ Global IoT for agriculture, mining, etc.

🔮 Future Outlook: Toward the True 6G Dream

Here’s what’s next according to the researchers:

📌 Field Trials: Real-world testing of the framework in multiple countries and events.
📌 Benchmarking: Compare performance with existing 5G/6G approaches.
📌 AI Integration: Use machine learning to optimize signal routing, power use, and load balancing in real time.
📌 RIS Evolution: Upgrade RIS to active surfaces for even more control.
📌 Policy Push: Work with governments and telcos to develop NTN-RIS friendly infrastructure regulations.

🛠️ TL;DR – Engineer's Cheat Sheet
ProblemToo many users at big events = network crash
SolutionCombine NTN (satellites) + RIS (smart reflectors)
BenefitHigh-speed, reliable, low-latency internet for all
Tools6G planning, SINR modeling, LEO satellites, RIS panels
Tested InQuito’s Olympic Stadium with 35,800 people
ResultSeamless coverage, 10 Gbps capacity, fewer base stations
📝 Final Thoughts

This study is a huge leap forward for the future of mobile networks. With 6G just around the corner, blending space tech with smart surfaces is how we’ll stay online when it matters most—whether it's the World Cup, a natural disaster, or a bustling city of the future.

🌐 Stay curious, stay connected to EngiSphere. See you tomorrow for another engineering breakthrough! 🔍⚙️


Concepts to Know

📡 Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) - Satellites or flying platforms (like drones or balloons) that send mobile signals from the sky instead of using ground towers. Think of it as internet from outer space! 🛰️

🪞 Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) - Smart panels placed on buildings that bounce and steer wireless signals to improve coverage—like mirrors for internet waves! ✨📶 - More about this concept in the article "All Aboard the Future! 🚄 How 6G Will Supercharge Smart Railways with Speed, Safety & Smarts".

🔄 SINR (Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio) - A fancy way to measure how clean your signal is compared to all the background noise and interference—higher means better connection! 🔊📶 - More about this concept in the article "Explaining the Power of AI in 6G Networks: How Large Language Models Can Cut Through Interference 📶🤖".

📶 B5G (Beyond 5G) - An advanced version of 5G, with faster speeds, better coverage, and tech that sets the stage for 6G networks. 🚀📲 - More about this concept in the article "Breaking Boundaries in Wireless Networks: The SANDWICH Model for Ray-Tracing Revolution 🌐✨".

📶 6G (Sixth Generation Wireless) - The upcoming generation of mobile internet—super fast, ultra reliable, and designed for things like holograms, smart cities, and flying cars. 🛸🌐 - More about this concept in the article "Building a Smarter Wireless Future: How Transformers Revolutionize 6G Radio Technology 🌐📡".

🛰️ LEO Satellite (Low Earth Orbit) - A satellite flying close to Earth (around 600–1500 km up) that delivers fast, low-latency internet from above. 🌍💫

🏗️ Base Station (BS) - A regular ground-based tower that sends mobile signals to your phone or device—part of the current mobile network. 📡📱

📱 UE (User Equipment) - Any device you use to connect to the network—like a smartphone, tablet, or VR headset. 🤳🎧

📈 Link Budget - An engineering calculation to figure out if your device can "hear" the signal strongly enough from the satellite or base station. 🧮📊

🌆 High-Density Environment - Places packed with people—like stadiums, concerts, or city centers—where mobile networks often struggle. 🏟️🎤📵


Source: Valdemar Farré, Juan Estrada, David Vega, Luis F Urquiza-Aguiar, Juan A. Vásquez Peralvo, Symeon Chatzinotas. Dynamic Beyond 5G and 6G Connectivity: Leveraging NTN and RIS Synergies for Optimized Coverage and Capacity in High-Density Environments. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2506.10900

From: Escuela Politécnica Nacional (EPN); Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology; Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ); University of Luxembourg.

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