Chapter 4:

Multiple Access Method

Razali bin Ngah
WCC FKE
UTM
 Multiple Access Techniques

Introduction

Multiple Access Techniques:

Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA)

Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)

Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA)

NOMA
 Introduction
The base stations need to serve many mobile terminals at the same time
(both downlink and uplink)

The base stations need to serve many mobile terminals at the same
time (both downlink and uplink)

A process of allowing multiple users to simultaneously share the finite
bandwidth with least possible degradation in the performance of the
system.

Process is known as multiplexing in wired networks and multiple
access in wireless communications.
 FDD and TDD (Review)

FDD

Two distinct frequencies at the same time for the two directions.

Frequency separation must be coordinated to allow cheap RF
technology.

TDD

Two distinct sets of time slots on the same frequency for the two
directions.
Multiple Access Techniques
 FDMA

 Use for standard analog system for e.g. AMPS, NMT 450 and ART
900.
 FDMA systems assign the individual channel resources to individual
users.
 …FDMA

 Frequency band (channel) assigned on demand to users who request

service.
 Only allow one user per channel
 Available spectrum divided into number of “narrowband” channels.
 No equalization is required and intersymbol interference is low.
 Requires expensive band pass filter and guard bands to eliminate
spurious radiation.
 Requires stable and clean RF sources, amplifiers, mixers and filters
 Usually combined with FDD for duplexing
 FDMA Example: AMPS Cellular System

Use FDMA/FDD.

A channel is a pair of frequency duplexed simplex channels.

Each simplex channels is 30 kHz.

Simplex channels are separated by 45 MHz.

Forward link (downlink): 869-894 MHz, reserve link (uplink):
824-849 MHz

Number of supported channels in AMPS

Btotal − 2 Bguard 12.5MHz − 2(10kHz )

N= = = 416
Bchannel 30kHz
 FDMA: Channel Structure

Guard Band Wg Sub Band Wc

1 2 3 4 … N
Frequency

Total Bandwidth W=NWc

f 1’ f 2’ f n’ f1 f2 fn

… …
Frequency
Reverse channels Forward channels
Protecting bandwidth
 FDMA Summary

Advantages

Simple and mature technology

lower channel bit rate (than TDMA – next section) means less

susceptible to multi path ISI

No frame synchronization required between BS’s

Disadvantages

cannot readily support variable user data rates, fixed channel

width means fixed bit rate.

Support a single user per BS radio (frequency band)
 Time Division Multiple Access

Multiple users share frequency band via cyclically repeating “time slots”.

Each user transmits on the same channel but at different specified
times.

Data is transmitted in burst and frames are used to carry the data.
 TDMA Example: GSM

GSM handsets transmit data at a rate of 270 kbit/s in a 200 kHz

channel using GMSK modulation.

each frequency channel is assigned 8 users, each having a basic
data rate of around 13 kbit/s
GSM
Some TDMA Systems
 TDMA – Summary

Advantages

can readily support variable user data rates, by simply

assigning multiple time slots

common TX component design, only one power amplifier

required to support multiple users

Disadvantages

requires terminal to support a much higher data rate than the

user information rate

challenge of establishing system timing
 Code Division Multiple Access CDMA

• Multiplexing in the code Space

• Multiple users occupy the same spectrum (frequency-time space) at
the same time.
• Users are channelized by specified codes within a frequency band.
 …CDMA

Spread spectrum communications elements:

 The signal occupies a bandwidth much greater than which is
necessary to send the information
 Immunity to interference and jamming

 Multi-user access

 The bandwidth is spread by means of a unique code (orthogonal

to the codes of other users).
 Codes called “Pseudo Random Code Sequence” or “Pseudo Noise”
 The receiver synchronizes to the code to recover the data.

Types of spread spectrum communications:

 Direct sequence
 Frequency hopping
 Direct Sequence CDMA (DS-CDMA)

• Spread the narrowband data by multiplying with a wideband PN code sequence

• Received signal multiplied by synchronized replica of the code sequence.
• Users are distinguished from each other by a unique spreading code.
DS-CDMA – cont.
 …DS-CDMA
• Separate users through different codes
• Large bandwidth
• Continuous transmission and reception

t
MS 1
MS 2
Code MS 3
• WCDMA (5 MHz)
• IS-95 (1.25 MHz)
f • CDMA2000 (1.25, 3.75 MHz)
5 MHz
 CDMA: Higher Capacity

- Capacity increases of 4 to 5 times that of a GSM

- Simplified system planning
FH-CDMA

• Narrow band message signal is

modulated with a carrier frequency
which is rapidly shifted.
• Available spectrum is divided into
bands with central frequencies as
carriers.
• Each user regularly hops frequency
over the available spectrum.
• Users are distinguished by a unique
hopping pattern ( or code).
• Used in Bluetooth.
Comparison of DS-CDMA and FH-CDMA
 Advantages and Drawbacks of CDMA

Advantages:

Capacity increases of 4 to 5 times that of a GSM

Improved call quality with better and more consistent sound

Simplified system planning

Enhanced privacy

Improved coverage characteristics

Bandwidth on demand

Drawbacks:

Self-jamming: PN codes are not exactly orthogonal.

Near-far problem: If an undesired user has high detected power as
compared to the desired user.
CDMA Power Control
 Handoff in CDMA System

In GSM hard handoff occurs at the cell boundary

Soft/softer handover is important for efficient power control. Without
soft/softer handover there would be near-far scenarios of a UE
penetrating from one cell deeply into an adjacent cell without being
power controlled by the latter

Soft Handoff: UE connected to two or more RBSs at the same time

UE commences Communication with a new BS without interrupting
communication with old BS

same frequency assignment between old and new BS

provides different site selection diversity

Softer Handoff: UE connected to two or more sectors of the same RBS

Handoff between sectors in a cell

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Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple
Access

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 Basic principles of OFDM

Transmission by means of OFDM can be seen as a kind of multi-carrier
transmission.

Due to the fact that two modulated OFDM subcarriers are mutually
orthogonal, multiple signals could be transmitted in parallel over the
same radio link, the overall data rate can be increased up to M times.

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 Why OFDM?

Efficient use of radio spectrum includes placing modulated carriers

as close as possible without causing Inter-Carrier Interference (ICI)

In order to transmit high data rates, short symbol periods must be
used, In a multi-path environment, a shorter symbol period leads
to a greater chance for Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI).

Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) addresses
both of these problems:

OFDM provides a technique allowing the bandwidths of

modulated carriers to overlap without interference (no ICI).

It also provides a high date rate with a long symbol duration,

thus helping to eliminate ISI.

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Single Carrier vs Multicarrier
…Single Carrier vs Multicarrier
…Single Carrier vs Multicarrier
LTE Frame Structure
Cyclic-prefix insertion

Page 34

DL Resource Grid
Resource Management
OFDMA: Scenarios
 Fractional Frequency Re-use

By restricting the transmission power of parts of the spectrum in one
cell, the interference seen in the neighbouring cells in this part of the
spectrum will be reduced, This part of the spectrum can then be used
to provide higher data rates for users in the neighbouring cell

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