Mobile Communication System

Prof. Beena R Ballal

Assistant Professor
Department of Electronics & Telecommunication
Vidyalankar Institute of Technology, Mumbai

Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
By Prof. Beena R Ballal
 Module 2

Mobile Radio Propagation

Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
By Prof. Beena R Ballal
 Module 2.3
Features of all conventional multiple access
techniques:
• Frequency division multiple access(FDMA)
• Time division multiple access(TDMA)
• Space spectrum multiple access (SSMA)
• Space division multiple access (SDMA)
• OFDM-PAPR
• OFDMA
Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
By Prof. Beena R Ballal
 Multiple access techniques
• Multiple access techniques are used to allow a large
number of mobile users to share the allocated
spectrum in the most efficient manner.

• To increase the capacity of cell or over a geographical

area by allowing the available bandwidth to be used at
the same time by different users.

• The main aim in the cellular system design is to be

able to increase the capacity of the channel i.e. to
handle as many calls as possible in a given bandwidth
with a sufficient level of quality of service.

Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
By Prof. Beena R Ballal
 Multiple access techniques
• There are several different ways to allow
access to the channel that includes mainly
the following:

1. Frequency division multiple-access (FDMA)

2. Time division multiple-access (TDMA)
3. Code division multiple-access (CDMA)
4. Space Division Multiple access (SDMA)

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By Prof. Beena R Ballal
 Multiple access techniques
• Depending on how the available bandwidth is
allocated to the users these techniques can
be classified as narrowband and wideband
systems.
 Narrowband Systems
• The term narrowband is used to relate the bandwidth
of the single channel to the expected coherence
bandwidth of the channel. The available spectrum is
divided in to a large number of narrowband channels.
 Wideband Systems
• In wideband systems, the transmission bandwidth of a
single channel is much larger than the coherence
bandwidth of the channel
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By Prof. Beena R Ballal
 FDMA: Frequency Division Multiple Access
• It assigns individual channels to individual
users.
• One frequency is used for downlink and one
pair for uplink. This is called frequency division
duplexing (FDD).
• That allocated frequency pair is not used in the
same cell or adjacent cells during the call so as
to reduce the co channel interference.

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By Prof. Beena R Ballal
 Features of FDMA
• The FDMA channel carries only one phone circuit at a time

• If an FDMA channel is not in use, then it sits idle and cannot be used by other users to increase or share
capacity. It is essentially a wasted resource
• After the assignment of a voice channel, the base station and mobile transmit simultaneously and
continuously.
• The bandwidths of FDMA channels are relatively narrow (30 kHz) as each channel supports only one circuit
per carrier. That is, FDMA is usually implemented in narrowband systems.

• The symbol time is large as compared to the average delay spread. This implies that the amount of
intersymbol interference is low and, thus, little or no equalization is required in FDMA narrowband systems.

• The complexity of FDMA mobile systems is lower when compared to TDMA systems, though this is changing
as digital signal processing methods improve for TDMA.
• Since FDMA is a continuous transmission scheme, fewer bits are needed for overhead purposes (such as
synchronization and framing bits) as compared to TDMA.

• FDMA systems have higher cell site system costs as compared to TDMA systems, because of the single
channel per carrier design, and the need to use costly bandpass filters to eliminate spurious radiation at the
base station

• The FDMA mobile unit uses duplexers since both the transmitter and receiver operate at the same time. This
results in an increase in the cost of FDMA subscriber units and base stations.

• FDMA requires tight RF filtering to minimize adjacent channel interference.

Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
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FDMA: Frequency Division Multiple Access

Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
By Prof. Beena R Ballal
 Nonlinear Effects in FDMA
• In a FDMA system, many channels share the same
antenna at the base station. The power amplifiers
or the power combiners, when operated at or near
saturation for maximum power efficiency, are
nonlinear.
• The nonlinearities cause signal spreading in the
frequency domain and generate intermodulation
(IM) frequencies.
• IM is undesired RF radiation which can interfere
with other channels in the FDMA systems.

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By Prof. Beena R Ballal
 TDMA: Time Division Multiple Access
• In digital systems, continuous transmission is not required because
users do not use the allotted bandwidth all the time.
• In TDMA the radio spectrum is divided into time slots, and in each
slot only one user is allowed to either transmit or receive.
• The entire bandwidth is available to the user but only for a finite
period of time.
• TDMA requires careful time synchronization since users share the
bandwidth in the frequency domain.
• The number of channels are less, inter channel interference is
almost negligible.
• TDMA uses different time slots for transmission and reception
• The guard time between the time slots in a TDMA frame helps in
minimizing the interference due to propagation delays along
different radio paths in the wireless channel.

Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
By Prof. Beena R Ballal
TDMA: Time Division Multiple Access

Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
By Prof. Beena R Ballal
 Features of TDMA
• TDMA shares a single carrier frequency with several users
where each users makes use of non overlapping time slots.
• The number of time slots per frame depends on several factors
such as modulation technique, available bandwidth etc.
• Data transmission in TDMA is not continuous but occurs in
bursts. This results in low battery consumption since the
subscriber transmitter can be turned OFF when not in use.
• Because of a discontinuous transmission in TDMA the handoff
process is much simpler for a subscriber unit, since it is able to
listen to other base stations during idle time slots.
• TDMA uses different time slots for transmission and reception
thus duplexers are not required.
• TDMA has an advantage that is possible to allocate different
numbers of time slots per frame to different users. Thus
bandwidth can be supplied on demand to different users
• High synchronization overhead is required in TDMA systems because
of burst transmissions.
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TDMA Frame structure

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Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
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 Applications of TDMA: Time Division Multiple Access
• TDMA/FDD in GSM
– GSM uses a variation of TDMA along with FDD. GSM digitizes
and compresses data, then sends it down a channel with two
other streams of user data, each in its own time slot. It operates
at either the 900 MHz or 1800 MHz frequency band. Since many
GSM network operators have roaming agreements with foreign
operators, users can often continue to use their mobile phones
when they travel to other countries.

• TDMA/TDD in DECT
– DECT is a pan European standard for the digitally enhanced
cordless telephony using TDMA/TDD. DECT provides 10 FDM
channels in the band 1880-1990 Mhz. Each channel supports 12
users through TDMA for a total system load of 120 users. DECT
supports handover, users can roam over from cell to cell as long
as they remain within the range of the system. DECT antenna
can be equipped with optional spatial diversity to deal with
multipath fading.
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By Prof. Beena R Ballal
 Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA)
• In CDMA, the same bandwidth is occupied by all the
users, however they are all assigned separate codes,
which differentiates them from each other
• This is the most commonly used technology for CDMA.
In DS-SS, the message signal is multiplied by a Pseudo
Random Noise Code.
• Each user is given his own codeword which is
orthogonal to the codes of other users and in order to
detect the user, the receiver must know the codeword
used by the transmitter.

Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
By Prof. Beena R Ballal
CDMA : Code Division Multiple Access

Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
By Prof. Beena R Ballal
 Applications of CDMA : Code Division Multiple Access
• CDMA/FDD in IS-95
– In this standard, the frequency range is: 869-894 MHz (for Rx) and
824-849 MHz (for Tx). In such a system, there are a total of 20
channels and 798 users per channel. For each channel, the bit rate
is 1.2288 Mbps. For orthogonality, it usually combines 64 Walsh-
Hadamard codes and a m-sequence.
• CDMA and Self-interference Problem
– In CDMA, self-interference arises from the presence of delayed
replicas of signal due to multipath. The delays cause the spreading
sequences of the different users to lose their orthogonality, as by
design they are orthogonal only at zero phase offset.
• CDMA and Near-Far Problem
– The near-far problem is a serious one in CDMA. This problem arises
from the fact that signals closer to the receiver of interest are
received with smaller attenuation than are signals located further
away. Therefore the strong signal from the nearby transmitter will
mask the weak signal from the remote transmitter.

Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
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Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
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Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
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 SDMA: Space Division Multiple Access
• SDMA serves different users by using spot
beam antenna / switched beam antenna.
These areas may be served by the same
frequency or different frequencies. However
for limited co-channel interference it is
required that the cells be sufficiently
separated.
• This limits the number of cells a region can
be divided into and hence limits the
frequency re-use factor.
Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
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Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
By Prof. Beena R Ballal
 SDMA: Space Division Multiple Access
• A more advanced approach can further increase the capacity of the network. This
technique would enable frequency re-use within the cell. In a practical cellular
environment it is improbable to have just one transmitter fall within the receiver beam
width. Therefore it becomes imperative to use other multiple access techniques in
conjunction with SDMA.

• When different areas are covered by the antenna beam, frequency can be re-used, in
which case TDMA or CDMA is employed, for different frequencies FDMA can be used.

Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
By Prof. Beena R Ballal
Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
By Prof. Beena R Ballal
 FDMA/ TDMA/CDMA/SDMA
Parameter FDMA TDMA CDMA SDMA

Method Overall Time sharing Sharing of Sharing of

bandwidth is takes place Bandwidth and spectrum in
shared among time both takes angular direction
many stations. place with smart
antennas

Interference Interference Interference Both are present Interference is

effect due to adjacent due to dependent on
cells incorrect beamwidth and
synchronization antenna
sidelobes
System Lower Higher Higher Higher
Complexity

System Simple, Flexible Flexible Flexible

Flexibility inflexible

Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
By Prof. Beena R Ballal
FDMA/ TDMA/CDMA/SDMA

Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
By Prof. Beena R Ballal
 Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing(OFDM)
• It is a multi carrier transmission technology
Orthogonal  Unrelated or independent of each
other
• Its function is to obtain higher data rate in the
multipath fading environment of mobile
communication
• In mobile communication selection of digital
modulation is dependent on following
parameters:
– Narrower bandwidth
– Efficient power utilization
– Elimination of intermodulation products

Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
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OFDM analogy

Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
By Prof. Beena R Ballal
 Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
OFDM method is applied is used to reduce the
frequency selective fading and errors generated by
wide band fading signals in wireless communication.
The advantage of OFDM is its efficiency to handle
suppressing multipath effects.

Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
By Prof. Beena R Ballal
 OFDM
• The data stream that is sent is in the form of symbols that
have undergone quadrature amplitude modulation.
• Th symbol stream is passed through serial to parallel
process.
• Each symbol is assigned to one of the subcarrier with
assigned symbol.
• Every subcarrier will operate at a particular frequency.
• In the frequency domain the symbol frame is formed with
the group of symbols from all sub carriers
• Then every symbol frame is transformed into time frame
with the help of N point “Inverse Fast Fourier
Transformation(IFFT)”
• Digital data streams is generated by these time frames
• Finally the signal is amplified and transmitted to antenna
Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
By Prof. Beena R Ballal
 OFDM
• Convolution coding method with CRC error detection
is used to provide high data security
• OFDM is sensitive to frequency and phase noise. To
minimize it correct pulse shape needs to be selected
• In OFDM receiver the symbol frames received is
detected
• It has to adjust the automatic control gain to desired
level
• A robust algorithm is to be used to withstand the
phase and frequency offset of the receive unit that will
interface with the synchronization process

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Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
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• The primary advantage of OFDM over single-carrier
schemes is its ability to cope with severe channel
conditions (for example, attenuation of high
frequencies in a long copper wire,
narrowband interference and frequency-
selective fading due to multipath) without complex
equalization filters.

Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
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Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
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 OFDM-PAPR(OFDM-Peak-to-Peak Average Power Ratio)
Peak-to-Average Power Ratio
• Peak-to-Peak Average Power Ratio is defined as the
ratio of peak power to the average power of the
signal. It is expressed in dB
• In OFDM there are large number of independent
multiple subcarriers and if simultaneously all the
subcarriers attain maximum value output envelope
suddenly shoots up. This causes peak in the envelope
• In LTE System, OFDM Signal PAPR is approx 12 dB

Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
By Prof. Beena R Ballal
 Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access(OFDMA)
• OFDMA simultaneously allows access points to offer services to multiple
users
• It uses carrier signal waves called subcarriers to transmit data

Advantages:-

• It provides good coverage over networks

• It provides more flexibility
• It provides lower interference between cells
• It provides high frequency efficiency

• Disdvantages:-

• It needs additional power because it is always On and ready to transmit

• It has higher sensitivity

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Module_2.3_Multiple_Acess_Techniques_
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