China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) First Academy’s
research center and Shanghai Aerospace Electronics said they have completed a
functional prototype of a metasurface electromagnetic-control core technology,
achieving domestic control and engineering readiness. The groups describe the
technology as a core frontier for 6G and LEO satellite interconnect, applicable
to commercial satellite communications, 5G/6G mmWave base stations, relays and
intelligent sensing. Under equivalent coverage the technology reduces required
front-end device counts, increases coverage performance by over 40% and can cut
single‑scenario device investment by about CNY 500,000. The teams say
mass‑production costs for high‑end satellite and mmWave terminals fall from the
tens of thousands of yuan to the thousands‑of‑yuan level, addressing a
long‑standing barrier to large‑scale deployment of high‑end communications
equipment.
