Creating and Operating Areas with Reduced Electromagnetic Field Exposure Thanks to Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces

Mobile network operators must provide a target quality of service (QoS) within a target coverage area. Each generation of networks from the 2nd to the 5th has reached higher QoS targets and coverage area sizes. However, the deployment of new networks is sometimes challenged by Electromagnetic Field (EMF) exposure constraints. In this paper, to take into account these constraints, we assess the novel and recent concept of "Reduced EMF Exposure Area". Such an area would be created and operated by a mobile network operator upon the request of its customers. In such an area, customers keep enjoying high data rate internet access while getting a reduced EMF exposure. To ensure this EMF exposure reduction, we propose to deploy Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) connected to the mobile network and exploit a joint RIS-M-MIMO uplink beamforming scheme. We use our ray-tracing-based simulation tool to visualize and characterize the Reduced EMF Exposure Area in a challenging environment in terms of propagation. Our simulations show that an operator can create and operate such an area under the condition that it carefully places the RIS in the environment.