IEEE ComSoc Distinguished Speaker Program (DSP) – ICEST 2026 Conference
Jacopo Iannacci
MicroSystems Technology Research Unit
Center for Sensors and Devices (SD)
Fondazione Bruno Kessler
Title
Sketching future perspectives of MEMS & NEMS as enabling technologies of 6G and Future Networks (FN), with focus on RF-MEMS and telecommunications
Abstract
The forthcoming sixth generation of mobile networks (6G), with first deployments expected around 2030, represents a radical discontinuity with respect to previous generations. Far from being just an incremental evolution, 6G and the broader horizon of Future Networks (FN) will introduce unprecedented paradigms in services, infrastructure, and Key Performance Indicators (KPI), demanding a cross-disciplinary understanding spanning from high-level network architecture down to the physical hardware layer.
This lecture offers a comprehensive outlook across different domains. Starting from an overview of the 6G landscape, it introduces fundamental notions of Microtechnologies (MEMS) and Nanotechnologies (NEMS), covering fabrication processes and the ecosystem of miniaturized Sensors, Actuators, and Transducers (SAT). Conceptual tools linking Micro/Nanotechnologies to high-end application scenarios are also briefly touched.
Technical focus will then be aimed at RF-MEMS technology, i.e., MEMS-based Radio Frequency (RF) passive components, with remarkable KPI, like very-low insertion loss, high isolation, good linearity, and broad reconfigurability. After covering fabrication technologies and classes of key components, e.g. micro-switches, varactors, impedance tuners and phase shifters, the discussion highlights the strategic role of RF-MEMS in 6G, particularly for massive MIMO (Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output), advanced beamforming, and reconfigurable antenna systems, positioning RF-MEMS as a Key Enabling Technology (KET) for next-generation wireless communications.