Joint RIS Leasing and Energy Management for Delay-Tolerant 6G Networks

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) have emerged as a transformative technology in 6 G networks, enabling reliable communication in densely populated areas for non-line-of-sight (NLOS) communication scenarios. This work introduces a joint RIS leasing and energy-aware transmission framework tailored for delay-tolerant applications. We propose a RIS Service Provider (RSP), which strategically deploys RIS on buildings to establish an alternative communication path. Energy for transmission is provided by either the electrical grid (with time-varying prices) or intermittently available harvested sources. Competing 6G Network Operators (6GNOs) lease RIS and purchase energy under dynamic price model implemented by both RSP and electrical grid. We propose a Decision Support Framework (DSF) for a Cost-Savvy Network Operator (CSNO) to minimize costs while maintaining Quality of Service (QoS) for delay-tolerant applications. The DSF leverages a queue-based modeling approach, where packets arrive randomly, and the CSNO maintains a data queue. By adopting a threshold-based policy derived from the Lyapunov optimization technique, the DSF enables optimal resource leasing decisions, enabling a trade-off between resource costs and queue stability in non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) environments. Simulation results demonstrate the adaptability of the proposed framework under varying weather conditions and dynamic pricing, achieving significant improvements in cost efficiency and delay control compared to baseline strategies. The proposed approach offers a scalable and intelligent solution for sustainable resource management in next-generation 6 G networks.