Methods, systems, and devices for
wireless communications are described. A forwarding device (e.g., a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)) may transmit a capability message indicating one or more timing parameters associated with a
time duration for the forwarding device to switch a set of forwarding elements from forwarding in a first direction to forwarding in a second direction. The forwarding device may receive, based on the indicated one or more timing parameters, one or more control messages that instructs the forwarding device to forward
signal energy in the first direction during a first
symbol period and to forward
signal energy in the second direction during a second
symbol period. The first
symbol period may be different from the second symbol period. The forwarding device may include a primary array including a first set of forwarding elements and a secondary array including a second set of forwarding elements.