Signal Processing for 5G: Algorithms and Implementations

Chapter 8Major 5G Waveform Candidates: Overview and Comparison

Hao Lin and Pierre Siohan

1. 8.1 Why We Need New Waveforms
2. 8.2 Major Multicarrier Modulation Candidates
   1. 8.2.1 CP-OFDM Modulation
   2. 8.2.2 Subcarrier Filtered MCM using Linear Convolution
   3. 8.2.3 Subcarrier Filtered MCM using Circular Convolution
   4. 8.2.4 Subband Filtered MCM
3. 8.3 High-level Comparison
   1. 8.3.1 Spectral Efficiency
   2. 8.3.2 Tail Issue
   3. 8.3.3 Spectrum Confinement
   4. 8.3.4 Mobility
   5. 8.3.5 Latency
   6. 8.3.6 Modem Complexity
   7. 8.3.7 Compatibility with LTE
4. 8.4 Conclusion
5. List of acronyms
6. References

8.1 Why We Need New Waveforms

In each decade a new mobile communication system is invented to meet, thanks to use of novel technological features, exponentially growing market demand. For 5G¹ the objectives targeted by the European Union METIS project² are to provide, at the 2020 horizon, 1000 times more mobile data volume per area, 10–100 times more connected devices, 10–100 times higher user data rates, 10 times longer battery life for low-power massive machine communication, and 5 times reduced end-to-end latency [1].

Naturally, all these huge increases will only be made possible by the combination of several complementary factors: better use of the already available spectrum, authorization to use new spectrum above 6 GHz, generalization of small cells, introduction of massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), and so on. Our feeling is also that the 4G LTE modulation scheme is not well suited to meeting some essential 5G requirements ...