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Introduction

Huge amount of bandwidth is available in THz bands (ITU has identified 137 GHz of spectrum between 275 and 450 GHz).  At such frequencies it is possible to achieve extremely high data rates and ease spectrum scarcity problems.  

The small wavelength of THz signals enables the realization of compact and miniaturized devices and antennas. It is possible to integrate multiple antenna elements within a limited form factor and realize pencil-sized beams.

The specific propagation properties of THz signals enable accurate sensing and imaging capabilities and may be exploited for integrated sensing and communication functionalities.Advancements in the semiconductor industry and the emergence of new materials are facilitating the realization of THz devices. These include three main fabrication approaches:

electronic (high output power); photonic (low noise); plasmonic (energy efficient).

Our Role & Activities

ETSI ISG THz performs pre-standards work covering the following areas:

Definition and selection of relevant use cases for THz communications; Mapping of selected use cases to relevant channel measurement scenarios; Definition of frequency bands of interest; Analysis of existing work in the area of THz channel measurements and modeling Performing of radio channel measurements and modeling, including: indoor and outdoor environments, with and without mobility, intra/inter device measurements and models, sounding for integrated sensing and communication (ISAC), sounding including reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), machine learning (ML) methods to generate and analyze radio channels; Specification of the evaluation methodology for THz communication systems.

ISG THz:

Provides an opportunity for ETSI members to progress their pre-standards for research efforts on THz technology resulting from  various EU/other collaborative research projects, extended with relevant global initiatives, towards paving the way for future standardization of the technology. Prepares systematic output on channel models, system parameters, and evaluation assumptions for the evaluation of THz communication systems. Encourages a continual exchange with relevant standardisation groups/bodies (either inside or outside of ETSI) to ensure they are informed and consider the work of ISG THz in their further relevant technology specifications developments.

Specifications

A full list of related standards in the public domain is accessible via the ETSI THz committee page.

Introduction

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is accelerating the digital transformation and ETSI is at the heart of digital. Design and implementation of AI is developing rapidly in many sectors of the market. ETSI develops globally recognized ICT standards with direct impacts on Industry, SMEs, Academia, Citizens, and Public Institutions.

The ETSI community has a strong interest in AI as a “tool”: in architectural models, to enhance Information/data models, to redesign operational processes, to increase solution interoperability, and for data management for new ICT standards.

ETSI specifications as well as workshops, webinars, guides and White Paper #34 Artificial Intelligence and future directions for ETSI can offer practical support to the introduction of AI into many areas.

The use of AI in ICT is considered to be a game changer, because it enables new business cases that take ICT beyond pure connectivity, supporting new services with added value and efficient operation. In the current crisis period of a health pandemic, ICT enhanced with AI can provide robust and sustainable logistics, as well as connectivity to citizens, and support to the health care sector (medicine development, medical knowledge sharing and disease spread monitoring, personal-distancing monitoring).

Our Roles & Activities

The Operational Co-ordination Group on Artificial Intelligence (OCG AI) acts as a coordination group for the standardization activities related to AI that are handled in the technical bodies, committees and ISGs of ETSI.

Specifications

A full list of related specifications in the public domain is accessible via the standards search.

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Tracking Future Technology Evolutions

In ETSI we create strong links between Researchers, Innovators & Standards Makers by examining emerging technology trends in combination with initiatives such as:

The ETSI Technology Radar (ETR), tracking the evolving technology trends Building enablers to encourage Research and Innovation to engage in Standards Creation of new technical groups [Technical Bodies (TBs) / Industry Specification Groups (ISGs) / Software Development Groups (SDGs) / others] in ETSI Publication of technology White Papers Organizing ETSI conferences and presenting technology standards updates at relevant external Events

The ETSI Technology Radar (ETR) provides a high-level description of the main technology trends emerging in ICT and their potential relevant for ETSI's present and future work.

The most recent edition of the ETR was published in December 2023.

During the revision of the original ETR (see below) the ETR drafting group has considered the most recent technology vision and framework documents, particularly the numerous global 6G vision papers published late 2022 and early 2023.

The latest ETR has expanded upon the original ten (10) technology trends to include twenty one (21) technology areas that are all relevant to ETSI's ongoing Work Programme.

The first edition of the ETR was published in April 2021.

The original ETR identified ten (10) broad technology trends as well as describing their importance, possible evolution timescales and most importantly, the eventual impact on ETSI's work programme.

The ETSI Technology Radar (ETR) is available for consultation and review. Your feedback is welcome and encouraged.

Please send any feedback or ideas on the ETR to research@etsi.org.

Introduction

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) corresponds to a planar surface composed of unit-cells, whose properties can be controlled dynamically to 'tune' the incident wireless signals through reflection, refraction, focusing, collimation, modulation or absorption. RIS can be potentially deployed for both indoor and outdoor usage, including offices, airports, shopping centres, lamp posts and advertising billboards, and may take any shape or be integrated onto objects. Its characteristics may also result in low energy consumption, making RIS a sustainable technology solution. RIS can be configured to operate at any part of the radio spectrum, including frequencies from below 6 GHz to THz, and may harness tools from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to enable systems operation and optimization.

As RIS is envisaged to be a new enabling candidate wireless technology for the control of the radio signals between a transmitter and a receiver in a dynamic and goal-oriented way, turning the wireless environment into a service. This has motivated a host of potential new use cases targeting at:

i)  the enhancement of various system key-performance-indicators (KPIs), and ii) the support of new wireless technology applications and capabilities.

These include enhancements to the capacity, coverage, positioning, security, and sustainability, as well as the support of further sensing, wireless power transfer, and ambient backscattering capabilities.

Our Roles & Activities

The ETSI Industry Specification Group (ISG) is a technical group addressing RIS pre-standardization work including the identification of technology and standards gaps through the following activities:

Identify Gaps and Recommendations of existing and required standards both inside ETSI and in other SDOs Identify and describe RIS related use cases & specific scenarios, specify derived requirements and identify technology challenges in the following areas: Fixed and Mobile Wireless Access Fronthaul and Backhaul Sensing and Positioning Energy and EMF Exposure Limits Security and Privacy Document a networking e2e reference architecture including RIS elements Describe RIS based specific deployment practice / guidelines Provide a Gap Analysis for RIS microelectronics and enabling technologies Provide and demonstrate PoCs and test case descriptions to validate standards-based approaches

ETSI ISG RIS prepares group reports on:

RIS use cases, deployment scenarios and requirements RIS technological challenges, architecture and impact on standardization RIS communication models, channel models, and evaluation methodology

Specifications

A full list of related specifications in the public domain is accessible via the RIS committee page.