Title:
Integrating Intelligent Reflecting Surface (IRS) Into Mobile Networks to Bridge the Digital Divide in Rural Areas While Improving User Connectivity

Authors:
Patrick Dany Bavoua Kenfack, Alphonse Binele Abana, Paul-Salomon Ngohe-Ekam, Emmanuel Tonye, Pamela Brenda Bitom, Cameroon

Abstract:

This paper focuses on connectivity in rural areas of Cameroon. While communication technologies such as 4G and 5G are beginning to become widespread in Cameroon, it is clear that there are still parts of the country that are not covered by radio access: "white zones". This lack of coverage is mainly due to the lack of interest of mobile network operators to invest in areas where they cannot obtain a return on investment. One solution would be to deploy low-cost communication networks that are able to adapt skillfully to the environmental conditions of rural areas: this is the objective of this work. This is how the dimensioning of an intelligent communication environment using IRSs as relays for base stations is included. This involves planning the densification of the networks to be deployed, dimensioning the performance of the intelligence attributed to the radio environments to be installed, as well as optimizing the investment costs of site implementation. Four key innovations emerge from our work: improved signal coverage, reduced infrastructure costs, flexibility and scalability, and reduced interference.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.51505/ijaemr.2025.1001