Rate-Splitting Multiple Access and Its Interplay with Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces

Rate-splitting multiple access (RSMA) has recently appeared as a powerful technique for improving the downlink performance of multiple-input multiple-output systems. By flexibly managing interference, RSMA can deliver high spectral and energy efficiency, as well as robustness to imperfect channel state information. In another development, an intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) has emerged as a method to control the wireless environment through software-configurable, near-passive, sub-wavelength reflecting elements. This article presents the potential of synergy between IRS and RSMA. Three important improvements achievable by IRS-RSMA schemes are identified, supported by insightful numerical examples, and mapped to beyond 5G use cases, along with future research directions.