Benefits of SC-FDMA Receiver in LTE
- Low Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR):
- SC-FDMA (Single-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access) exhibits a lower PAPR compared to other modulation schemes, reducing the demand for power amplifiers with high linearity.
- Improved Power Efficiency:
- Lower PAPR contributes to improved power efficiency, making SC-FDMA well-suited for mobile devices with limited battery capacity.
- Mitigation of High Power Consumption:
- SC-FDMA’s characteristics make it more energy-efficient, addressing power consumption challenges in the uplink transmission of LTE, particularly beneficial for mobile devices.
- Enhanced Spectral Efficiency:
- SC-FDMA offers better spectral efficiency in the uplink, optimizing the utilization of available frequency bands and supporting increased data rates.
- Reduced Interference:
- SC-FDMA exhibits lower sensitivity to frequency-selective fading, reducing interference and enhancing communication reliability in challenging radio environments.
DFT spreading of modulation symbols reduces PAPR
- In OFDM, each modulation symbols “sees” a single 15 kHz subcarrier (flat channel)
- In SC-FD-A, each modulation symbol “sees” a wider bandwidth (i.e. mx 180 KHz)
- Equalization is required in the SC-FDMA receiver
DFT-spread OFDM (DFTS-OFDM) is a transmission scheme that can combine the desired properties discussed in the previous sections, i.e.:
• Small variations in the instantaneous power of the transmitted signal (‘singlecarrier’ property).
• Possibility for low-complexity high-quality equalization in the frequency domain.
• Possibility for FDMA with flexible bandwidth assignment.
Due to these properties, DFTS-OFDM has been selected as the uplink transmission scheme for LTE.
SC-FDMA Receiver Benefits in LTE
When you look at SC-FDMA in LTE, one of the key benefits comes from its ability to reduce power consumption at the receiver end. SC-FDMA is used in the uplink, and because it’s a single-carrier technique, it’s more power-efficient than OFDMA, which is typically used for downlink. I’d say this is crucial since user equipment (UE), like smartphones, has limited power resources.
Another advantage is its reduced peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR). High PAPR can cause distortion and inefficiency, but SC-FDMA keeps this lower, meaning the transmitter doesn’t need to work as hard to maintain a strong signal. As a result, the receiver benefits from cleaner signals with less interference and better overall quality.
This all translates into longer battery life and better performance for uplink transmissions, especially in conditions where the UE is far from the base station or in high-interference environments. It helps the network maintain a reliable connection, even with limited power resources.