Performance of Throughput based on Subcarrier Allocation in Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access

Abstract

Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) can achieve higher spectrum efficiency due to its capability to allocate the same resources to pair of users. Two NOMA users will be multiplexed to the same subcarrier for transmission which is also known as user pairing where strong channel condition's user is paired with poor channel condition's user. User with a strong channel contributes to the system throughput while user with a poor channel is treated fairly which will cause the performance of the poor channel to be degraded. However, the performance of poor channel can be improved if the subcarrier allocation is considered in the pairing strategy. Hence, the goal of this study is to analyse and discuss the effect of subcarrier allocation to the performance of throughput. Based on the simulations results, user's performance can be improved by allocating more subcarriers to the pair. The performance of the weakest channel condition's user is improved by 57.14% when the number of allocated subcarriers is 36. Thus, it can be concluded that subcarrier allocation is the parameter that affect the performance of throughput in NOMA.