6G-SANDBOX RIS Trials

6G-SANDBOX is a pan-European testbed for 6G experimentation, funded by the SNS-JU under the Horizon Europe program. It combines digital and physical nodes to create end-to-end networks, allowing researchers and organizations to validate new technologies and research advances for the future of 6G. The project provides a modular facility for the European experimentation ecosystem, supporting technology and research validation over the next decade. 6G-SANDBOX has four main platforms located in Athens, Berlin, Malaga, and Oulu. 6G-SANDBOX also has cooperation outside of Europe, actively engaged in 6G experiments.

6G-SANDBOX will orchestrate in H1/2026 a set of large-scale 6G trials, one of which is focused on RIS.

RIS Trials

6G-SANDBOX, leveraging its current infrastructure, will broker a large-scale open experimentation focused on RIS during H1 2026. The experimentation is close to a plug fest where different technologies are tested together in a meaningful E2E system. By combining these technologies into one testbed, real RIS trials should be achieved.

The objective of this project is to evaluate the impact of Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) on wireless coverage across FR1, FR2, and FR3. The trials aim to quantify RIS performance in realistic deployment scenarios, focusing on dense urban environments or extreme scenarios with coverage. By comparing baseline measurements against RIS-assisted deployments, we seek to determine how RIS can enhance key performance indicators and provide meaningful coverage improvements in challenging environments.

To maximize interoperability, the experimentation platform will support contributions in both RIS hardware and RIS-alignment technologies. Two complementary configurations are envisaged: one enabling RIS units to be interchanged to assess hardware diversity, and another providing a reference RIS installation with a standardized API, through which external alignment and control solutions can be directly integrated and validated.

The overarching goal is to establish a structured methodology that integrates field measurements, vendor coordination, and deployment planning to generate reliable datasets and insights. These results will not only validate the feasibility of RIS in practical settings but also guide future deployment strategies.

Confidentiality

The intention is to publish results as much as possible to promote RIS technologies. Technology providers own the results, which can be kept confidential, when possible, within the experimenters’ group. The participants must express any confidentiality requests in advance. Independent of confidentiality, a report on the trial will need to be shared with the SNS JU experts to assess the project impact (this will remain confidential).

Funding

The activities will NOT be funded, meaning that every partner covers its own costs (shipping equipment, participation in trials etc.). Participants can, when applicable, use SNS JU (or other local) current project funding to participate in these activities in agreement with their funding agencies. The experiment is a clear dissemination activity.

More information, interested?

For more information, please contact experimenter@6g-sandbox.eu.