Pinching Antennas: Principles, Applications and Challenges

Yang Z, Wang N, Sun Y, Ding Z, Schober R, Karagiannidis GK, Wong VW, Dobre OA (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

IEEE Wireless Communications IEEE

DOI: 10.1109/MWC.2025.3607867

Abstract

Flexible-antenna systems, such as fluid antennas and movable antennas, have been recognized as key enabling technologies for sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks, as they can intelligently reconfigure the effective channel gains of the users and hence can significantly improve their data transmission capabilities. However, existing flexible-antenna systems have been designed to combat small-scale fading under non-line-of-sight (NLoS) conditions. As a result, they lack the ability to establish line-of-sight (LoS) links, which are typically 100 times stronger than NLoS links. In addition, existing flexible-antenna systems have limited flexibility, where adding/removing an antenna is not straightforward. This article introduces an innovative flexible-antenna system called pinching antennas, which are realized by applying small dielectric particles to the waveguides. We first describe the basics of pinching-antenna systems and their ability to provide strong LoS links by deploying pinching antennas close to the users as well as their capability to scale up/down the antenna system. We then focus on communication scenarios with different numbers of waveguides and pinching antennas, where innovative approaches to implement multiple-input multiple-output and non-orthogonal multiple access are discussed. In addition, 6G-related applications of pinching antennas, including integrated sensing and communication and next-generation multiple access, are described. Finally, important directions for future research, such as waveguide deployment and channel estimation, are highlighted.

Authors with CRIS profile

Robert Schober Lehrstuhl für Digitale Übertragung (IDC)

Involved external institutions

Fujian Normal University / 福建师范大学 CN China (CN) China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT) / 中国矿业大学 CN China (CN) Hefei University of Technology CN China (CN) Khalifa University of Science, Technology & Research (KUSTAR) / جامعة خليفة AE United Arab Emirates (AE) Aristotle University of Thessaloniki GR Greece (GR) University of British Columbia CA Canada (CA) Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) CA Canada (CA)

How to cite

APA:

Yang, Z., Wang, N., Sun, Y., Ding, Z., Schober, R., Karagiannidis, G.K.,... Dobre, O.A. (2025). Pinching Antennas: Principles, Applications and Challenges. IEEE Wireless Communications. https://doi.org/10.1109/MWC.2025.3607867

MLA:

Yang, Zheng, et al. "Pinching Antennas: Principles, Applications and Challenges." IEEE Wireless Communications (2025).

BibTeX: Download