eprintid: 10189910 rev_number: 7 eprint_status: archive userid: 699 dir: disk0/10/18/99/10 datestamp: 2024-04-05 16:42:36 lastmod: 2024-04-05 16:42:36 status_changed: 2024-04-05 16:42:36 type: article metadata_visibility: show sword_depositor: 699 creators_name: Wen, CK creators_name: Tsai, LS creators_name: Shojaeifard, A creators_name: Liao, PK creators_name: Wong, KK creators_name: Chae, CB title: Shaping a Smarter Electromagnetic Landscape: IAB, NCR, and RIS in 5G Standard and Future 6G ispublished: pub divisions: UCL divisions: B04 divisions: C05 divisions: F46 note: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions. abstract: The main objective of 5G and beyond networks is to provide an optimal user experience in terms of throughput and reliability, irrespective of location and time. To achieve this, traditional fixed macro base station deployments are being replaced by more innovative and flexible solutions, such as wireless backhaul and relays. This article focuses on the evolution and standardization of these advancements, which are shaping the electromagnetic landscape. Specifically, we explore Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) nodes, which offer a cost-efficient and agile alternative to fiber backhaul. We also discuss Network-Controlled Repeaters (NCRs) and the emergence of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) actively adapting the wireless environment. The article provides an overview of the 5G features and ongoing developments in 3GPP Release 18 related to these intelligent EM entities, highlighting the expected evolution of future wireless networks in terms of architecture, operations, and control signals. date: 2024-03 date_type: published publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) official_url: http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/mcomstd.0008.2300036 oa_status: green full_text_type: other language: eng primo: open primo_central: open_green verified: verified_manual elements_id: 2262833 doi: 10.1109/MCOMSTD.0008.2300036 lyricists_name: Wong, Kai-Kit lyricists_id: KWONG98 actors_name: Wong, Kai-Kit actors_id: KWONG98 actors_role: owner full_text_status: public publication: IEEE Communications Standards Magazine volume: 8 number: 1 pagerange: 72-78 citation: Wen, CK; Tsai, LS; Shojaeifard, A; Liao, PK; Wong, KK; Chae, CB; (2024) Shaping a Smarter Electromagnetic Landscape: IAB, NCR, and RIS in 5G Standard and Future 6G. IEEE Communications Standards Magazine , 8 (1) pp. 72-78. 10.1109/MCOMSTD.0008.2300036 <https://doi.org/10.1109/MCOMSTD.0008.2300036>. Green open access document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10189910/1/paper_v3.0_Shojaeifard.pdf