Wireless-Fed Pinching-Antenna Systems (Wi-PASS) for NextG Wireless Networks

Abstract

Waveguide-based pinching-antenna systems (PASS) have recently emerged as a promising solution to mitigate severe propagation losses in millimeter-wave and terahertz bands by intelligently and flexibly establishing line-of-sight links. However, their reliance on wire-based feeding confines deployment to areas near the base station (BS), limiting installation flexibility and making them cost-ineffective for serving distant users or regions. To overcome this challenge, this article proposes wireless-fed pinchingantenna systems (Wi-PASS), which employ wireless feeding to energize waveguides. Wi-PASS offer a practical and cost-efficient means to extend coverage beyond the BS vicinity. Several indoor and outdoor use cases demonstrate Wi-PASS advantages over PASS. Numerical results further show that Wi-PASS deliver higher data rates than conventional fixed-antenna systems, confirming the superior feasibility and performance of Wi-PASS. Key future research directions are also discussed to advance Wi-PASS deployment.