MC-FDMA and MC-TDMA versus MC-CDMA and SS-MC-MA: performance evaluation for fading channels

Abstract

The multi-carrier (MC) multiple access schemes MC-FDMA, MC-TDMA, MC-CDMA and the previously proposed SS-MC-MA scheme are investigated and compared for the suitability in the uplink and the downlink of a mobile radio system. By presenting a bandwidth efficiency plan for the different MC multiple access schemes in fading channels, the influence of the channel code rate, the system load, and the spreading code length is presented. Moreover, results with oneand two-dimensional pilot symbol aided channel estimation are shown for the various MC multiple access schemes considering typical multipath propagation scenarios in the uplink and the downlink.