A system comprising a relay device that configures to a first beamforming setting for a first set of antenna arrays to establish a first link between the relay device and a source device, and a second beamforming setting to establish a second link between the relay device and a destination device. A data stream is processed based on a selection of one of a passive mode or an active mode of relay operation. In the passive mode, a received radio frequency waveform of the data stream is down-converted to an intermediate frequency waveform, re-amplified, and then up-converted for transmission without requiring any data demodulation, and in the active mode, the IF waveform is demodulated and then remodulated for the transmission. The data stream is forwarded to the destination device through the second link based on the selection of one of the passive or active mode.