FDMA

▪ Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) refers to sharing the available radio spectrum by
assigning specific frequency channels to subscribers either on a permanent basis or on a
temporary basis.
▪ The differentiation between the carrier frequencies of the forward channels (also called
downlink-communication between the cell-site and mobile subscribers) and reverse channels
(also called uplink-communication between the mobile subscribers and the cell-site) is an
important design parameter related to FDMA technique.
▪ If the forward channels and reverse channels use different carrier frequencies that are
sufficiently spaced, the duplexing scheme is referred to as FDD.
▪ The FDD technique is mostly used in macro cellular communication systems designed for radio
coverage of several kilometre
▪ The base station dynamically assigns a different carrier frequency to each active mobile
subscriber. In order to adjust and maintain the transmission and reception frequencies, a
frequency synthesiser is used at the base station and the mobile station. The concept of FDMA
is shown in Fig. 8.1.

▪ In FDMA, the available radio spectrum is divided into a set of continuous frequency channels
labelled 1 through N, and the frequency channels are assigned to individual mobile
subscribers on a continuous-time basis for the duration of a call. FDMA bandwidth structure
is illustrated in Fig. 8.2.
▪ Fig. 8.3 shows the basic structure of a FDMA system, consisting of a cell-site (CS) and many
mobile subscribers. There is a pair of simplex channels for the communication wireless link
between the CS and the mobile subscribers. The paired channel is called forward channel
(downlink) and reverse channel (uplink)
▪ FDMA uses forward and reverse channels to facilitate communication. The forward channel
transfers data from the cell-site to the mobile subscriber, while the reverse channel transfers
data from the mobile subscriber to the cell-site.
▪ Different frequency channels are allocated to individual mobile subscribers. This separation
ensures interference-free communication. Each pair of communicating subscribers is assigned
unique forward and reverse channels for full-duplex communication.
▪ FDMA was a foundational technology in first-generation analog cellular systems, widely
adopted for both handheld and vehicle-installed mobile devices. A frequency gap, known as
duplex spacing, is maintained between forward and reverse channels to prevent interference.
▪ Each subscriber is allocated a specific frequency range called the subband (Bc). The total
bandwidth (Bt) is calculated as the product of the number of channels (N) and the bandwidth
of each channel (Bc), represented by Bt = N × Bc.
▪ Guard bands (Wg) are incorporated between adjacent channels to reduce interference and
ensure clear communication. Signals are confined to their assigned bandwidths to prevent
adjacent channel interference. Out-of-band energy is minimized to maintain signal quality and
avoid degradation.
▪ Figure 8.4 illustrates the forward and reverse channel structure in FDMA and figure 8.5
depicts the use of guard bands and subband allocation to avoid adjacent channel interference.
EXAMPLE 8.1 Impact of ACI in FDMA system
(a) What is the difference between the received signal strength of two mobile subscribers located at 10
m and 1 km away from a cell-site in an open area?
(b) Explain the effects of shadow fading on the difference in the received signal strength of two
mobile subscribers obtained in part a).
(c) What would be the impact if the two mobile subscribers were operating in two adjacent channels?
Assume out- of-band radiation that is 40 dB below the main lobe.
(d) Suggest the measure taken to overcome this problem in FDMA cellular systems.
Solution
(a) To determine difference in received signal strengths of mobile subscribers Distance of MS1 from
the cell-site, r1 = 10 m (given) Distance of MS2 from the cell-site, r2 = 1 km or 1000 m (given)
Operating environment = Open area
Step 1. In an open area environment, free-space propagation conditions exist
The value of propagation path-loss exponent, γ = 2
Step 2. In free-space propagation, the received signal strength decays at the rate of 20 dB per decade
of distance.
Step 3. The difference between the received signal strength of two mobile subscribers located at r1
and r2,
ΔPr = 20 log (r2 / r1)2
Therefore, ΔPr = 20 log (1000/10)2
Hence, ΔPr = 80 dB
(b) The effects of shadow fading
In addition to the decrease in the received signal strength value with distance, the multi-path and
shadow fading due to the near–far problem because of large difference in the distances of two mobile
subscribers, in radio channels cause received signal fluctuations of the order of typically 20 dB.
Therefore, the difference in the received signal levels from these two mobile subscribers may exceed
even 100 dB.
(c) Impact of operation in adjacent channels
Out-of-band radiation below the main lobe= 40 dB (given)
It implies that out-of-band radiations may exceed the signal strength of the desired signal by almost
(100 dB –40 dB =) 60 dB
(d) The measure taken to overcome the problem in FDMA cellular systems
To handle the near–far problem in FDMA cellular systems, the following different measures may be
adopted in the system.
– Channel assignment should be done in such a way so that the frequencies in each cell are grouped as
far apart as possible from each other.
– Guard bands should be included in the frequency channel to further reduce adjacent channel
interference. This, however, has the effect of reducing the overall spectrum efficiency.
– The transmitter power of the mobile subscribers should be controlled so as not to cause interference
to other transmissions in the cell.
EXAMPLE 8.2 FDMA/FDD in AMPS

Illustrate the concept of FDMA/FDD system commonly used in First Generation (1G) analog cellular
communication systems such as AMPS.
Solution
FDMA/FDD systems operate with forward and reverse channels assigned different carrier
frequencies. During a communication session, a fixed subchannel pair is allocated to a subscriber.
The mobile unit at the receiving end filters out the designated channel from the composite signal
received. This process ensures efficient and interference-free communication.
The Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) is a notable example of FDMA/FDD technology. In
AMPS, each channel is allocated a bandwidth of 30 kHz. The uplink frequency range spans from 824
MHz to 849 MHz, while the downlink frequency range covers 869 MHz to 894 MHz.
Relevant figures:
• Figure 8.6 demonstrates the typical FDMA/FDD system used in first-generation analog
cellular systems.
• Figure 8.7 illustrates the AMPS frequency allocation for uplink and downlink channels.
Some of the salient features of the FDMA/FDD system concept are given here.
▪ During the call, a mobile subscriber occupies two simplex channels, one each on the uplink
and downlink, for full-duplex communication.
▪ The two simplex channels are spaced by fixed duplex spacing. For example, duplex spacing in
AMPS is (869 MHz–824 MHz =45 MHz).
▪ When a call is terminated, or when hand-off occurs, the occupied channels are released which
can be used by other mobile subscribers in the system.
▪ Multiple or simultaneous mobile subscribers are accommodated in AMPS by allocating each
calling or called mobile subscriber a dedicated channel.
▪ Voice signals are sent on the forward channel from the base station to the mobile user, and on
the reverse channel from the mobile user to the base station.
▪ In AMPS, analog narrowband frequency modulation technique is used to modulate the carrier

The number of channels, N that can be simultaneously supported in an FDMA system is given by

▪ Bt is the total spectrum allocation, Bg is the guard band at the edge of the allocated spectrum.
and Bc is the bandwidth of each channel.

EXAMPLE 8.3 Number of channels in AMPS

A US AMPS analog cellular system is allocated 12.5 MHz for each simplex band. If the guard band at
either end of the allocated spectrum is 10 kHz, and the channel bandwidth is 30 kHz, find the number
of channels available in an FDMA system.
Solution
Allocated spectrum, Bt = 12.5 MHz (given)
Allocated guard band, Bg = 10 kHz (given)
Channel bandwidth, Bc = 30 kHz (given)
The number of channels available in the FDMA system is given as
N = (Bt − 2 Bg) / Bc Or,
N = (12.5 × 106 − 2 (10 × 103) / (30 × 103) Or,
N = 416 Hence the number of channels available in an FDMA system is 416 channels

EXAMPLE 8.4 Number of simultaneous links in an FDMA system

A cellular system operator is allocated a total spectrum of 5 MHz for deployment of an analog cellular
system based on the FDMA technique, with each simplex channel occupying 25 kHz bandwidth.
Compute the number of simultaneous calls possible in the system.
Solution
Total spectrum allocated = 5 MHz (given)
Channel bandwidth = 25 kHz (given)
Step 1. To determine number of simplex channels
Number of simplex channels = Total spectrum allocated / Channel bandwidth
Number of simplex channels = 5 MHz / 25 kHz = 200
Step 2. To determine number of duplex channels
Number of simplex channels in a duplex channel = 2
Therefore, number of duplex channels = 200 / 2 = 100
Step 3. To compute the number of simultaneous calls
Hence, in a given analog cellular FDMA system, 100 full-duplex communication links can be
established simultaneously as each link requires two simplex channels (one for uplink and another for
downlink) or one duplex channel.
Therefore, the number of simultaneous calls = 100 calls

Name: Bhavya Ishwar Naik

USN:2AB21EC002