ABSTRACT Terahertz (THz) communication has emerged as a pivotal research directions for the sixth‐generation (6G) mobile communication systems, owing to its outstanding potential in ultra‐high data rates, extremely low latency, and massive capacity. Metasurface technology, particularly reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS), as a disruptive approach for electromagnetic wave manipulation, offers a novel pathway to overcome the channel propagation limitations in THz communications. It significantly accelerates the development of dynamic THz functional devices and promotes their practical application in real‐world systems. This article provides a systematic review of recent advances in three interconnected areas of RIS‐assisted THz communication systems: channel modeling, channel estimation, and localization. In channel modeling, innovative theoretical frameworks address near‐field effects in large‐scale arrays and complex propagation environments. For channel estimation, efficient methods leverage sparsity and low‐rank properties, alongside artificial intelligence‐driven joint optimization strategies. Localization research emphasizes high‐precision near‐field architectures and their integration in sophisticated systems such as integrated sensing and communication, with added analysis of performance potential. This review aims to serve as a comprehensive reference for researchers working on channel‐related technologies in THz RIS‐assisted communications and to stimulate further research and practical applications toward future intelligent communication systems.
Wang et al. (Wed,) studied this question.